Raids on NE drug cartels reveal illicit deals worth Rs 270cr

Multi-agency raids in Assam, Mizoram and Manipur exposed over Rs 270 crore in narco-hawala transactions

NEW DELHI: In a major crackdown on cross-border narco-hawala networks in northeastern states, multi-agency search operations by at least 38 teams at 38 locations simultaneously, revealed illicit transactions of over Rs 270 crore, and led to arrest of six people and freezing of over 1,425 mule bank accounts.

Properties worth over Rs 26 crore were also frozen or attached during the searches.“Modi govt’s lethal blow against drugs continues... Our agencies launched a barrage of simultaneous crackdowns across 38 locations in Assam, Mizoram and Manipur on Oct 23, smashing an international narco-cartel,” Union home minister Amit Shah said Sunday. Shah said India will hammer until the last nail is driven into the coffin of drug cartels.

He also outlined govt’s policy of ‘zero tolerance’ against drugs and the strategic shift from a seizure-centric to a network-centric approach. The drive is part of Centre’s mission to eradicate drug smuggling syndicates by 2029.The latest searches were conducted on several premises in Aizawl, Champhai and Lawngtlai and Churachandpur and were related to cross-border trafficking of heroin, brown sugar and methamphetamine tablets from Myanmar and hawala settlement of drug proceeds. The operation was conducted by ED in coordination with NCB and Mizoram Police.ED has identified layered transactions of over Rs 270 crore, handled by illicit money exchangers, or hawala network, in Champhai, including Rs 125 crore in cash received from Assam, Nagaland, Bengal, Tripura and Delhi.