AGARTALA/AIZAWL — The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday launched a massive multi-state crackdown, conducting raids at multiple locations across Mizoram, Tripura, and West Bengal. The searches are part of a high-profile money laundering investigation into an organized cross-border drug trafficking syndicate valued at a staggering Rs 142 crore.
According to senior officials, the targeted premises are strategically located near critical international borders, specifically the India-Myanmar front in Mizoram and the India-Bangladesh front in Tripura.
Rooted in a Major Narcotics Seizure
The ED’s action, initiated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), stems from a Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) case. The origin goes back to August 21, 2025, when a massive haul of 49.10 kg of methamphetamine and 40 grams of heroin was seized in Tripura.
The investigation has exposed a highly organized international network:
- The Route: The syndicate was allegedly smuggling methamphetamine from Myanmar into India through the Champhai/Zokhawthar sector in Mizoram, routing it directly to distributors in Tripura.
- The Money Trail: ED’s preliminary probe reveals that the syndicate generated “proceeds of crime” worth Rs 142 crore, which were systematically layered and laundered through a web of multiple bank accounts and shell companies.