New Delhi: A case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act has been registered in connection with a 3000-kilogram heroin seizure in Gujarat's Mundra port. The Enforcement Directorate will commence the money laundering probe.
National Investigation Agency (NIA) is investigating the role of militant groups in the wake of the latest Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan. Eight people have been arrested in the connection with case including M Sudhakar and his wife G Durga Purna Vaishali, another Indian, four Afghan nationals and Uzbek national.
Aashi Trading Company, identified as importer firm, is allegedly run by M Sudhakar and his wife G Durga Purna Vaishali. The DRI arrested the couple from Chennai and later brought to Bhuj town in Kutch. They were produced before a special court for NDPS cases in Bhuj on September 20 that granted 10 days custody of the two to the DRI.
DRI investigation found that drugs coming into India from Afghanistan via Iran were being stored in warehouses in Delhi and Noida and transported to various places from there. A total of 16.1 kg of heroin and 10.2 kg of cocaine were seized from a warehouse in Delhi on Wednesday. 11 kg of heroin was seized from a house in Noida.
As per the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence sources, Sudhakar received supplies from Afghanistan and Iran to his Vijayawada address. Raids were conducted in Delhi, Noida, Chennai, Coimbatore, Ahmedabad, Mandvi, Gandhidham and Vijayawada acting on tip-off from Sudhakar. Kalpesh Goswami, a public prosecutor for DRI in Gujarat said that Sudhakar and Vaishali were taken to Chennai for further investigation and their house and office in Chennai will be raided and verified.
The case pertains to the DRI, an enforcement agency under the Union Finance Ministry like the ED, seizing a total of 2,988.21 kilograms heroin from the Mundra port in the Kutch district on September 15.
Also read: Mundra port drug seizure, Sanjay Raut says 'money trail' will be exposed soon
