The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday carried out searches at 11 premises, in Mumbai and Gujarat, as part of its money-laundering probe against an alleged international narcotics – trafficking network of Navin Chichkar, from which narcotics worth ₹ 200 crore were seized in January 2025.
The probes allegedly revealed that Chichkar invested a substantial amount of funds in cryptocurrency.
ED’s investigation against Chichkar and others was initiated based on cases registered by the NCB (Mumbai), the Mumbai police’s Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) and the Navi Mumbai police, following the seizure of substantial quantities of high-grade hydroponic cannabis (Ganja), cocaine, and unaccounted cash in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, officials said.
After his alleged involvement in the seizure case was revealed, NCB secured Chichkar’s deportation from Malaysia last May, after he was intercepted there based on a pending Interpol Red Corner Notice (RCN). ED’s investigation has revealed that the drug sale proceeds were transferred outside India by the accused and his associates through hawala channels and in the form of cryptocurrency, which is virtual money but not legitimate tender in India.
A special NDPS court had also earlier issued a non-bailable warrant against Chichkar in connection with the seizure of cocaine, according to NCB officials. The searches allegedly led to the revelation of multiple pieces of evidence corroborating the transfer of the drug sale proceeds, officials said.
