Guwahati: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has uncovered a major narcotics-linked money laundering racket spanning Mizoram, Assam, Gujarat, West Bengal, and other states, following coordinated search operations on November 27 across Aizawl and Champhai (Mizoram), Sribhumi in Karimganj (Assam), and Ahmedabad (Gujarat).
The searches were carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, based on an FIR filed by Mizoram Police under the NDPS Act, involving the seizure of 4.724 kg of heroin worth Rs 1.41 crore and the arrest of nine individuals.
Gujarat-to-Mizoram precursor supply chain exposed
Financial analysis revealed a supply chain linking Mizoram-based entities to Gujarat-based firms, including Krishiv Enterprises, which allegedly supplied pseudoephedrine tablets and caffeine anhydrous worth Rs 4.54 crore in 2024–25.
The materials, classified as precursors and pre-precursors for methamphetamine production, were routed to firms connected to Henry Lalbiakzinga, Laltluangzela, and Benjamin Lalawmpuai.
These operatives allegedly used habitual offenders, including Assam’s Abu Saleh Saif Uddin and Mizoram’s Zodinthara and Lalrampari, to conduct smuggling and hawala transactions.
Link to Kolkata-based shell firms
The ED found financial connections between Mizoram entities such as Bill Enterprises, RK Two Sisters Store, LH Pharmacy, and KC Pharmacy and Kolkata-based shell companies, including Mahasin Tradecom, managed by Mohd. Zafar, who is linked to Abu Saleh.
Cross-border meth network using Indian GST credentials
Investigators uncovered the misuse of GST credentials of Indian nationals by Myanmar nationals to procure chemical precursors. Evidence suggests Indians sourced pseudoephedrine and caffeine anhydrous on behalf of Myanmar-based operatives, feeding a cross-border methamphetamine manufacturing pipeline.
The precursors were allegedly transported from India to Myanmar through the porous Indo–Myanmar border, with finished meth tablets smuggled back into India, primarily via Mizoram.
Massive hawala transactions detected
The ED detected large unexplained credits, including:
Rs 11 crore in the accounts of Abu Saleh Saif Uddin, including cash deposits across West Bengal.
Rs 52.8 crore in the accounts of narco-hawala operator Lalrampari, with deposits traced to Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, West Bengal, Tripura, and Delhi.
Seizures and account freeze
During searches, the ED seized:
Rs 46.7 lakh in cash
Digital devices, documents, and account books linked to the accused
Additionally, 21 bank accounts suspected of holding proceeds of crime have been frozen under Section 17(1A) of PMLA.
Investigation ongoing
The ED said further investigation is underway to dismantle the wider financial and smuggling network facilitating cross-border narcotics production and trafficking.
