The Central government has given the green light for more than 1,200 additional investigators and staff to join the Enforcement Directorate (ED). This move marks the first significant restructuring of the anti-money laundering agency in 15 years, with the aim of boosting its operational capabilities. The Finance Ministry has authorized the expansion of the workforce from 2,029 to 3,256, which will strengthen the core investigation team.
This increase includes 803 Assistant Enforcement Officers, 606 Enforcement Officers, and 531 Assistant Directors of Enforcement, as outlined in an official notification. The restructuring is intended to enhance the Directorate’s enforcement of laws such as the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act. By bolstering its workforce, the Directorate aims to better implement the criminal provisions of these laws.
The Enforcement Directorate, a 70-year-old agency, enforces the stringent provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA), along with the civil sections of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The agency’s roots trace back to May 1, 1956, when an ‘Enforcement Unit’ was established within the Department of Economic Affairs to handle violations of Exchange Control Laws under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947. Over the years, the Directorate has evolved and expanded its branches to different cities across India.
