Nasha Mukt Bharat: ED raids at 30 locations in four Southern states in 8 cases
The agency investigation under the prevention of money laundering act or PMLA stems from a total of eight cases registered by the local police in these states or the NCB since 2022
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at 30 sites across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana in connection with money laundering investigations tied to drug smuggling syndicates, officials disclosed. This action falls under the government's 'Nasha Mukt Bharat' initiative aimed at eradicating drug use in India. The raids originated from eight cases registered by local police or the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) since 2022.
In Tamil Nadu, the NCB apprehended Sri Lankan nationals Ajanthan and Madhusudan in Ramanathapuram on June 11, 2024, with 1.47 kg of methamphetamine. This investigation uncovered a scheme involving multiple individuals handling different aspects of methamphetamine trafficking, distribution, and remittance through hawala channels.
Another Tamil Nadu case saw the arrest of Bysul Rahman in Chennai on July 24, 2024, for possession of 5.970 kg of methamphetamine. It is alleged that the drug was intended for onward shipment to Sri Lanka, with one suspect, Syed Ibrahim, also named in the probe.
In December 2023, the NCB seized 2 kg of methamphetamine from a Sri Lankan man, Udaya Kumar, during a raid in Chennai. The agency has also pursued a July 2022 probe in Karnataka where Mruthyunjaya, alias Jayanna, was arrested with one kg of hashish oil.
The ED's operation in Telangana stems from three FIRs filed against Kalapathi Nithu Bai and her associates. This family group, based in Nanakramguda, reportedly ran an organized syndicate that trafficked ganja sourced from Odisha, Araku, and Dhoolpet (Hyderabad), reselling it at a significant premium in Nanakramguda and surrounding areas.
In Kerala, ED's actions were based on two separate cases - one involving Ayush Vinod intercepted with drugs by Kerala police, and another against Ligiesh, who arrived from Muscat with 949.26 grams of MDMA.
The ED emphasized that these raids were a strategic move under 'Nasha Mukt Bharat' to combat the drug menace through targeted financial disruption, tracing illicit proceeds, and dismantling drug networks. Over the past few years, the agency has observed an increasing involvement of drug-related financial networks in money laundering schemes through real estate, trade-based laundering, and cryptocurrency.
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