In a move against narco-terror funding, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out searches at nine locations in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. The operations led to the recovery of incriminating financial documents and the freezing of bank accounts holding deposits totaling Rs 49 lakh. These actions were conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
The searches in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, particularly near the Line of Control (LOC), were part of an ongoing investigation into money laundering associated with narco-terror funding. The ED’s probe uncovered a sophisticated narco-terror funding network operating between Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir. This network involved individuals like Satnam Singh, Manjit Singh @ Maan from Punjab, and operatives Safeer Ahmed and Kafeel Ahmed from Kupwara, Kashmir.
The investigation revealed a complex network facilitating the smuggling of heroin from Pakistan into India through Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir. The ED highlighted the involvement of various individuals in this illicit operation, including handlers linked to the terrorist organization Hizbul Mujahideen. The network utilized forged documents, fake vehicle papers, and cash transactions to transport and distribute heroin.
The proceeds from the sale of heroin were channeled to fund terror activities, as per the ED’s findings. The agency’s searches yielded incriminating documents and bank account records, leading to the freezing of multiple bank accounts holding a total of Rs 49.9 lakh. These actions are crucial in targeting the logistics and local facilitators involved in the cross-border narcotics supply chain.
