Drugs Case: ED Seizes Rs 4.5 Cr Cash, Phones, Laptops After Raids in Punjab, Rajasthan

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday mentioned it has seized Rs 4.5 crore money, cellphones, and laptops after it performed searches in Punjab and Rajasthan as a part of a drugs-linked cash laundering case. The raids had been launched on Tuesday at 25 residential and business premises belonging to an individual, Akshay Kumar Chhabra, and his associates at Ludhiana, Mohali, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jalandhar in Punjab and Ganganagar in Rajasthan.

The cash laundering case towards Chhabra and his associates stems from a criticism of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) that alleged 20.32 kg heroin had been recovered from Chhabra. Chhabra alongside along with his associates had been “involved” in the manufacturing and sale of illicit medicine, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleged and added that they used to course of smuggled morphine or uncooked heroin by way of two Afghan nationals, and distributed this to numerous drug sellers.

“Chhabra generated huge proceeds out of the illegal drug trade. The said proceeds were found to be transferred abroad to foreign-based raw heroin/morphine suppliers through Hawala channels, utilised by Chhabra for purchasing various movable/ immovable properties in his name and in the name of his accomplices,” it mentioned.

“These proceeds were infused in their related entities by way of handing over proceeds of crime in cash to the handler of shell entities and raising fake sales invoices to shell entities and thereby receiving credits from shell entities,” the company claimed. The ED mentioned that Rs 4.5 crore money, cellphones, laptops, paperwork associated to cash path, and property transactions had been seized in the course of the searches.

(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – PTI)