The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested two men in a money-laundering investigation linked to an alleged transnational narcotics trafficking syndicate operated by international drug trafficker Salim Ismail Dola and his associates.
“The accused have been identified as Pravin alias Nagesh Ramchandra Shinde and Brijesh Kanjibhai Moradiya,” an official statement said. “They were arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, by the ED’s Mumbai Zonal Office,” it said.
The ED said cash received from Dola through the Angadiya channel for procuring the chemicals was deposited and routed through multiple third-party and family accounts, as well as entities controlled or arranged by Moradiya and his associates. “Amounts involved in these transactions were received by Brijesh Moradiya and his associated/family accounts in the guise of commission from the sale of the chemical,” the statement said, adding that the money was subsequently transferred, layered and utilised.
The agency said its investigation had revealed a highly organised transnational criminal network involved in procuring precursor chemicals, clandestinely manufacturing mephedrone (MD), transporting and distributing narcotics across States, and trafficking narcotic substances internationally.
“The investigation was initiated based on multiple FIRs registered by various law enforcement agencies in Mumbai against Dola and others for offences relating to the illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances,” the ED said. “Investigation has further revealed that the illicit proceeds were used to acquire immovable properties and other assets in the names of persons closely associated with him,” the statement said. “The ED had earlier conducted searches at 21 locations across Mumbai, Surat, Ankleshwar and Rajkot on June 2 and 3 as part of the investigation,” the statement said.
