The Narcotics Control Bureau’s (NCB) Chandigarh unit has confiscated Rs 52 lakh over the past four days as part of an investigation into the diversion of psychotropic tablets and money laundering. Following the arrest of a director of IKON, it was discovered that the directors had hidden the cash in various locations with associates to avoid detection of drug money from the tablet diversion. Raids were conducted at multiple locations based on received information, leading to the recovery of Rs 25 lakh on January 16 and Rs 27 lakh on Monday. The search continues to locate the remaining drug money from the diverted tablets.
The case involves the seizure of 34 lakh psychotropic tablets, 10.57 lakh CBCS bottles, 1,613 kg of raw material, 573 kg of tramadol bulk mixture, 50,000 tramadol ampoules, and 5,000 midazolam vials. So far, 17 individuals have been arrested in connection with this case. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is actively working to identify individuals and entities sheltering the absconding accused or concealing crime proceeds.
In a separate incident, a Special NDPS Court in Madhya Pradesh sentenced two drug traffickers to 15 years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 1.5 lakh each for trafficking drugs from Sonepur in Odisha to Bhopal. The court in Raisen on January 14 found Zakir and Liyakat Ali guilty under relevant sections of the NDPS Act, 1985. The duo was apprehended on December 29, 2022, while transporting 109.150 kg of ganja in a car sourced from Sonepur and destined for Bhopal.
