Panaji: The Enforcement Directorate, Panaji, conducted a search of 26 locations across India in connection with an alleged international narcotics money laundering case on Friday.
The directorate seized a substantial amount of cash, along with narcotic substances including charas and other contraband, as well as incriminating documents and digital devices.In Goa, the ED searched 12 places. Other states it conducted operations in include Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Odisha and Delhi. These searches were conducted under provisions of the PMLA.The ED registered an enforcement case information report (ECIR) against Madhupan Sasikala and others pertaining to allegedly illegal international narcotics trafficking and laundering of crime proceeds.It said that the searches were carried out pursuant to the ECIR registered by the ED on the basis of an FIR registered by the anti-narcotics cell, Goa police, under the provisions of the NDPS Act, involving trafficking of narcotic substances in commercial quantities.“Search operations revealed the existence of a well-organised inter-state drug trafficking syndicate. Further, the distribution of narcotic substances on a business-to-business (B2B) basis was traced across multiple states, namely Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Kerala,” said ED.It also said that analysis of the seized digital devices and documents revealed evidence indicating large-scale supply of narcotic substances, including MDMA, ecstasy, hash, kush, mushrooms, rashol cream, cocaine, and super cream within India.The investigation revealed linkages with suppliers and the active involvement of multiple associates and facilitators in the narcotics supply chain and laundering of illicit proceeds.
The directorate is in the process of sharing information emerging from the investigation with other relevant law enforcement agencies for appropriate action in accordance with law.In 2024, the ANC busted one of the biggest pan-India LSD rackets in Goa, and arrested a non-Goan person from Anjuna. Police recovered 1,825 LSD blot papers worth over Rs 91 lakh in the international market, and seized drugs worth over Rs 1 crore. The accused purchased the drugs through the dark web.
