India has brought back 274 fugitives from 36 countries since 2019 under Operation Trishul, the government said on Tuesday. The operation has helped Indian agencies trace and return people wanted in cases related to terrorism, organised crime, narco-terrorism, sexual offences and other serious crimes. The government said advanced technology and strong coordination with international agencies have played a major role in locating fugitives hiding overseas.

According to the government, Operation Trishul was launched to identify and track the geo-location of fugitives who had escaped from India. Several central agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), state police forces and other security agencies, worked together during these operations. The government said they used satellite imagery, surveillance systems and digital footprints to trace the accused in different countries.

The government also highlighted the support received from INTERPOL during the process. It said the international organisation helped establish the location of fugitives who had changed their names or identities after leaving India. Despite these efforts to avoid detection, technology and profile mapping enabled authorities to identify and track them successfully.

“Operation Trishul was launched to track the geo-location of fugitives. With INTERPOL’s cooperation, the location of the criminals in hiding was established based on satellite, surveillance, and digital footprint. Although fugitives had changed their names or identities abroad, technology and profile-mapping still tracked them down,” the government said in a statement.

Government records show that 17 of the 274 fugitives were wanted in terrorism and narco-terrorism cases. Another 42 were accused in organised crime, gangsterism and extortion cases. A total of 53 fugitives faced charges in sexual offence cases, including those registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The remaining fugitives were wanted in several other serious criminal cases.

The pace of bringing fugitives back has increased in recent years. Government data shows that 70 fugitives were brought back in 2025, the highest number recorded in a single year since the operation began. Officials also said that at least 45 fugitives have already been brought back till July this year, indicating that the numbers are expected to rise further.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted the achievement in a post on X. He said the government has significantly improved India's ability to trace and return criminals who flee abroad.

“Regardless of which country they absconded to, India’s new approach to national security has ensured the return of 274 criminals since 2019, compared with a mere four per year during the UPA regime.”

He also said that the country's security system has become much stronger than before.

“Gone are the days when criminals were allowed to sneak through the gaps in the system. New India has addressed every gap in the old system through new laws, institutions, and global partnerships, weaving an unbreachable security net.”

Officials in the security establishment said the number of fugitives brought back to India is likely to increase further during the year. They linked this to the Centre's ongoing campaign against drugs and the launch of a three-year roadmap prepared for all agencies involved in tracking fugitives.

An official said all concerned agencies have already prepared a list of narco-terrorist fugitives who have been identified for return before 2029. The official added that the process has already started and one suspected narco-terrorist has been detained in a friendly country. Authorities are now working on the formalities required for his deportation.

“All agencies have prepared a list of narco-terrorist fugitives who must be brought back before 2029. The number will see a meteoric rise this year,” an official said, asking not to be named, adding that one narco-terrorist has already been detained in a friendly country and his deportation details are being worked out.

The government said Operation Trishul reflects India's stronger international cooperation and improved use of technology in law enforcement. The operation has helped agencies trace fugitives across multiple countries, even when they attempted to hide their identities. With coordinated efforts, modern surveillance tools and global partnerships, the government expects more wanted criminals to return to India in the coming years.