Chennai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids on September 3 in Chennai, Nagapattinam and Ramanathapuram in connection with three accused in narcotics and drug-peddling cases being probed by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). These raids were part of the Nasha Mukt Bharat initiative covering Southern Bharat.
According to reports, in Chennai, ED officials conducted raids at 10 properties linked to Nizaruddin and Syed, arrested by the NCB under drug-smuggling charges, and their relatives.
In Chennai, searches were made at four places, including Chennai Anna Nagar and Perambur. Meanwhile, Zone 2 ED conducted searches at eight places linked to Alex Mahalingam in Nagapattinam, who built luxury bungalows besides owning multiple properties in the names of relatives and friends.
The ED, it is reported, is probing a PMLA case to find out whether the properties were acquired through proceeds of crime, such as drug smuggling and money laundering.
A netizen in a post on X said, “The cases involve alleged Methamphetamine trafficking and hawala transactions linked to Sri Lankans and Indians. The searches were conducted at two premises each in Chennai and Ramanathapuram, six in Chennai and six in Nagapattinam and Velankanni. The cases relate to seizures of Methamphetamine ranging from 950 gm to 54.6 kg, besides cash, gold and silver. The ED is probing the trail of proceeds of crime and assets allegedly acquired through drug trafficking”.
Earlier, ED carried out searches at 30 locations across Tamil Nadu, Keralam, Karnataka and Telangana in eight PMLA cases linked to alleged narcotics trafficking and money laundering. The probe has also uncovered alleged international drug links and investments of crime proceeds in real estate.
