ED Goa unit searches 19 locations in 8 states in drugs, laundering case

Panaji: The ED Goa on Friday conducted searches at multiple locations across Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bengal, Goa, Haryana, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh in connection with alleged drug trafficking and money laundering. It has registered a case against Nibu Vincent and others.

The ED seized incriminating documents and froze multiple bank accounts during the search.

The ED conducted searches at 19 locations across the country and arrested a Zimbabwean national.The case was initiated by the ED on the basis of an FIR registered by the Goa police crime branch.The ED said that during the course of the search operation, its teams seized multiple digital devices, electronic storage media, and other incriminating documents and froze multiple bank accounts used in money laundering activities.“The materials recovered contain vital evidence pointing towards the financial trail of drug trafficking proceeds, the use of layering techniques to conceal illicit funds, and the involvement of secondary handlers and facilitators who acted as the second layer of the syndicate,” the ED said.The ED mentioned that the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) investigations indicate strong evidence of international linkages and communication with networks outside India, suggesting that the cartel was not limited to Goa alone but had cross-border contacts for both procurement and distribution.

The ED investigation showed the use of shell entities and benami accounts for routing funds, thereby disguising the origin of the money earned through drug trafficking.The ED said that the investigations showed that certain foreigners were involved in procuring travel tickets and arranging logistics for Indians to travel abroad for the trafficking of narcotic drugs.“The search operation brought to light the role of a larger organised syndicate engaged in narcotics trafficking, racketeering, and laundering of proceeds of crime and narcotics across multiple states and even foreign jurisdictions,” the ED said.The ED found that one Tariro Mangwana, a Zimbabwean national, was involved in laundering funds for the Indian national as remuneration for acting as a mule and made arrangements for travel and logistics.“Out of eight such Indian nationals, four were arrested either in India or in foreign jurisdictions for involvement or possession of narcotic drugs. Based on his involvement in the international organised drug syndicate and money laundering, Tariro Mangwana was arrested under section 17 of the PMLA, 2002,” the ED said.The special court under PMLA at Goa remanded the accused in ED custody for three days.“This operation exemplifies our continuous efforts to curb the illegal drug trade and to trace, identify, and attach the proceeds of crime generated from such activities along with sending a strong deterrent message,” the ED said.Further investigation in the matter is in progress to identify all beneficiaries, facilitators, and to trace the assets generated from the illicit activities.