In a massive, coordinated crackdown on crime and narcotics across south Tamil Nadu, the Southern Range Police have executed over 2,400 arrest warrants and apprehended 687 offenders under a specialised drive named ‘Operation Shield’.

The intensive operation, which commenced on May 20, spans 10 districts under the jurisdiction of the southern range: Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, and Kanniyakumari.

According to Inspector General of Police (IG) Vijayendra Bidari, the initiative—digitally tracked under the hashtag #OperationSHIELDNET—was launched to heavily bolster crime prevention and dismantle illegal drug networks in the region.

A primary focus of the operation has been the eradication of banned substances.

Police registered 497 cases, leading to the arrest of 687 drug offenders.

Among these, 682 individuals were caught specifically for the sale and distribution of banned ganja and tobacco products.

The localised raids yielded massive contraband seizures, including 401 kg of ganja and 4,458 kg of illegal tobacco products.

In a bid to tighten the legal noose around habitual offenders, the police did not just make fresh arrests but also targeted those out on bail, said police sources.

A total of 694 petitions were filed in court seeking the cancellation of bail for non-compliant individuals.

Further, 2,441 pending arrest warrants were successfully executed during this period.

To ensure long-term public tranquility, the police have actively invoked preventive clauses.

Good conduct bonds were secured from 365 individuals identified as potential threats to public peace, legally binding them to maintain order.

The scope of Operation Shield also extended into civic discipline and local grievances.

Regional traffic enforcement saw a massive surge, resulting in the seizure of 55,336 two-wheelers for various motor vehicle violations.

Additionally, addressing root causes of local violence, the police initiated 127 legal actions under Section 164 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to resolve escalating property disputes before they turned into law-and-order issues.

Mr. Vijayendra Bidari emphasised that these intensive crime-prevention measures are being continuously maintained to ensure absolute safety and public order across all 10 southern districts.