The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized cash, gold, and foreign currency collectively valued at Rs 1.3 crore after conducting searches at 20 locations across Mumbai, Surat, Ankleshwar, and Rajkot on Tuesday. The action is part of an investigation into a transnational narcotics trafficking syndicate allegedly operated by Salim Dola, a close aide of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim. Dola was extradited from Turkey in April.
Seizure of Properties and Documents
The ED has also seized documents relating to immovable properties worth several crores of rupees located in India and Dubai. These documents indicate substantial investments made from the proceeds of the organised drug syndicate. The agency stated that its searches mainly targeted suppliers of precursor chemicals, hawala operators, chartered accountants, and benami property holders in India and abroad. Most of the chemical factories covered in the searches were situated in Gujarat.
Focus on Chemical Suppliers
Sources revealed that the action against drug syndicates usually ends after busting the manufacturing factories and acting against those related to it. In the recent searches, the agency focused on chemical factories that provided raw material illegally to the drug manufacturing units. This included suppliers of precursor chemicals, intermediaries engaged in chemical trading, traffickers involved in the manufacture and distribution of the synthetic narcotic drug mephedrone (MD), hawala operators, and persons holding benami properties acquired from proceeds generated through the organised drug syndicates.
Money Laundering Investigation
The ED is investigating the money laundering case based on multiple FIRs registered across Mumbai against Dola and others for offences relating to illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. The agency continues to probe the financial networks and assets linked to the syndicate.
