The Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out a series of search operations on Thursday under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002 in several locations across Mizoram, Assam and Gujarat. The Aizawl Sub‑Zonal office was the main force behind the raids, targeting sites in Aizawl, Champhai, the former Karimganj (now Sribhumi) district of Assam and the city of Ahmedabad.
During the searches, officers seized cash worth ₹35 lakh and other material evidence hidden on electronic devices, which are now under examination. The probe kicked off after an FIR lodged by the Mizoram Police under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) 1985. That complaint detailed the seizure of 4.724 kg of heroin—worth more than ₹1.41 crore—taken from six arrested suspects.
Financial investigations have linked firms based in Mizoram to companies in Gujarat. The Gujarat entities supplied pseudoephedrine tablets (classified as Schedule‑A, B, and C substances under the NDPS‑RCS Order 2013) and caffeine anhydrous—an ingredient used in methamphetamine production—to Mizoram‑based firms. These supplies are tied to drug traffickers who orchestrate smuggling and hawala transactions through Champhai, a notorious cross‑border hub bordering Myanmar.
Analysis also uncovered financial ties between the Mizoram firms and shell companies registered in Kolkata, which had purchased the caffeine anhydrous. The precursor chemicals for methamphetamine are smuggled from India into Myanmar across porous borders, manufactured there, and then shipped back into India, primarily through Mizoram.
Narco‑hawala operators’ bank accounts in Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, West Bengal, Tripura, and Delhi collectively held a staggering ₹52.8 crore, including substantial cash deposits. Detailed statements from these operators are being recorded, and the investigation remains active.
Geographically, Mizoram shares a 510‑km unfenced border with Myanmar and a 318‑km one with Bangladesh, while Manipur’s 398‑km unfenced frontier lies along Myanmar. Both northeastern states also border Assam, Nagaland, and Tripura. The Chin State of Myanmar serves as a critical conduit for the smuggling of drugs, wildlife, and other contraband through six Mizoram districts—Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip—and five Manipur districts—Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Kamjong, and Ukhrul.
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