In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in New Delhi has taken custody of six men as part of an ongoing investigation into money laundering linked to a drug smuggling network between Afghanistan and India. This case surfaced following the seizure of a heroin shipment at Nhava Sheva port in 2021.
The six accused were initially arrested under the NDPS Act in 2021 and had been in judicial custody prior to the ED’s intervention regarding money laundering related to their drug trafficking activities. Lovejit Singh alias Labba and Manjeet Singh alias Manna were apprehended on October 11, while Prabhjit Singh, Gurjot Singh, and Ramandeep Singh were arrested on October 18. Gurpreet Singh was taken into custody on October 20.
Investigations revealed that the accused were instrumental in coordinating the smuggling, storage, and distribution of heroin across Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi. They were part of a syndicate that imported heroin from Afghanistan and Iran, cleverly concealing it within shipments of talc stone and gypsum powder. Prabhjit Singh allegedly operated M/s Sandhu Exports as a front for these drug trafficking activities.
The operation first came to light in July 2021 when the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted two containers at Nhava Sheva port, imported by Sandhu Exports under the guise of semi-processed talc stones. Upon inspection, officials discovered 293.81 kg of heroin hidden among legitimate cargo, valued at over Rs2,000 crore in the international market.
Further investigations revealed an additional seizure of 352.71 kg of heroin by the Delhi Police Special Cell from locations in Faridabad, Haryana, bringing the total haul to an alarming 646.52 kg.
The ED is now focused on tracing the financial trails associated with these operations to expose the extensive money laundering network that facilitated the conversion of drug sale profits into seemingly legitimate business activities. The agency has identified numerous bank accounts, cash transactions, and operational expenses linked to the syndicate’s activities.
The investigation disclosed that the accused did not make payments to Afghan suppliers until after the drugs were sold locally. Cash transactions were used to purchase several vehicles, including second-hand Toyota Fortuners, Etios, and Hyundai Vernas, for transportation between storage and distribution sites.
Additionally, the ED found that cash was utilized to acquire high-end smartphones, and encrypted communication apps were used to coordinate smuggling operations. The drugs, imported from Iran and Afghanistan, were typically routed through Nhava Sheva port in Mumbai, stored in a rented facility in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, and distributed in smaller quantities to avoid detection by law enforcement.
