The Enforcement Directorate has arrested two alleged associates of Salim Ismail Dola in a probe into an international drug-trafficking network linked to the manufacture and distribution of mephedrone, or MD, the agency said. The arrests were made under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, after cases related to the illegal trafficking of narcotic and psychotropic substances were registered by law-enforcement agencies in Mumbai.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Praveen alias Nagesh Ramchandra Shinde and Brijesh Kanjibhai Moradia. The ED’s Mumbai zonal office began its investigation after FIRs were registered against Dola and others over alleged offences connected with narcotics and psychotropic substances.
Dola, who was brought back to India from Turkey in April, is alleged by anti-narcotics agencies to be a close associate of Dawood Ibrahim and to have operated an international drug-trafficking syndicate. The 59-year-old was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau after arriving at Delhi airport, according to the report.
The ED said its investigation has identified activities including the procurement of precursor chemicals, clandestine manufacturing of MD, interstate transportation and distribution of the drug, international trafficking, and the collection and layering of alleged proceeds of crime through hawala channels. The agency also alleged that assets were acquired in the names of associates and other individuals.
According to the ED, Shinde was involved in the clandestine manufacture and sale of MD and in handling, possessing, using and transacting money allegedly generated through the illegal trade. The agency said some of the proceeds were used to purchase immovable and other assets in the names of people close to him.
Moradia was allegedly involved in arranging the procurement and supply of precursor chemicals used in MD production. The ED said cash routed through an angadia channel for purchasing precursor chemicals from Dola was deposited into accounts held by third parties, family members and entities controlled or managed by Moradia and his associates. The funds were then transferred through banking channels to chemical companies and other entities to facilitate the purchase of the chemicals.
The agency said the transactions involved money received as commissions from chemical sales. It alleged that the funds were subsequently transferred, layered through multiple accounts and used in the network’s operations.
On June 2, the ED conducted searches at 21 locations in Mumbai, Surat, Ankleshwar and Rajkot. The operation targeted alleged participants across the network, including precursor-chemical suppliers, chemical traders, manufacturers and distributors of synthetic drugs, hawala operators and individuals suspected of holding property purchased with proceeds from the alleged syndicate.
During the searches, the agency seized or froze cash, foreign currency, gold bars and bank balances valued at Rs 1.33 crore, as well as $2,200, according to the report. Investigators also found documents relating to several crores worth of immovable properties in India and Dubai. The ED’s investigation and the underlying criminal cases are continuing.
