Pariksha SaathiNCB's 'Operation Trident': 38 teams strike 38 locations in Assam, Mizoram and Manipur against a narco-cartel
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) spearheaded 'Operation Trident' in the early hours of 23 October 2026, with 38 multi-agency teams striking 38 locations simultaneously across Assam, Mizoram and Manipur against a transnational drug-trafficking cartel, in coordination with Mizoram Police and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the operation revealed ₹100 crore worth of hawala transactions, froze 1,424 bank accounts, attached properties worth ₹17.82 crore, seized 500 detonators and ₹12 lakh in cash, and led to the arrest of 18 people. The network trafficked narcotics across the borders of India, Myanmar and Bangladesh. The operation is in line with the Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-2029) and exemplifies a shift from a seizure-centric to a network-centric and financial-disruption approach; the stated mission is to eradicate every drug network by 31 December 2029.
Drafted with AI assistance from the official PIB release linked above and checked against it by a second AI pass. Not line-edited by a human.
Learning context
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) was established on 17 March 1986 by the Government of India to lead the national effort against drug trafficking and abuse. Working under the supervision of the Central Government, it coordinates enforcement across states and agencies under the NDPS Act and related laws. In 2024, law enforcement agencies across India, including the NCB, seized drugs worth around ₹25,330 crore, over 55% more than the ₹16,100 crore seized in 2023.
Check yourself: when was the Narcotics Control Bureau established, and under which Act does it coordinate enforcement?
On 17 March 1986; under the NDPS Act and related laws.
Revision task: from this release, note the date of Operation Trident, the agencies involved, the three states, and the figures for hawala, frozen accounts, attached property and arrests; from the note, when the NCB was set up and the value of drugs seized in 2023 and 2024.
Test yourself
'Operation Trident', launched by the Narcotics Control Bureau on 23 October 2026 with 38 teams striking 38 locations, covered which three states?
Show the answer
Answer: Assam, Mizoram and Manipur
The 38 multi-agency teams struck 38 locations across Assam, Mizoram and Manipur, including Aizawl, Champhai and Zokhawthar in Mizoram.
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