The Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out searches in West Bengal, Tripura, and Mizoram as part of a money laundering investigation linked to a significant cross-border drug trafficking case involving over Rs 142 crore. The searches were conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, at multiple locations in these states. The investigation is based on a case registered by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
The NCB case originated from the interception of a vehicle convoy in Mizoram in August 2025, resulting in the seizure of methamphetamine tablets and heroin, along with the arrest of eight individuals. The ED’s investigation uncovered an organized interstate and cross-border syndicate that smuggled methamphetamine from Myanmar into India through Mizoram and then routed it to Tripura. The syndicate used various methods, including bank accounts, cash, and hawala channels, to obscure the origins of funds totaling over Rs 142 crore.
The searches targeted the residential and official premises of key individuals and entities associated with the syndicate. Among those identified were individuals from Tripura, Mizoram, and West Bengal who were linked to the seized contraband. The searches revealed the presence of CCTV cameras in forest areas surrounding certain houses and along the international borders. Support from security forces like the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Border Security Force (BSF) was sought during the operations, leading to the seizure of incriminating evidence relevant to the investigation.
