Daijiworld Media Network - Agartala
Agartala, Jan 12: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its crackdown on interstate drug cartels with a series of coordinated raids across Tripura, targeting key players in a network facilitating drug trafficking across several states, including Assam and Bihar.
The raids, conducted on Friday under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, uncovered significant evidence linking the suspects to large-scale narcotic trafficking operations involving substances like ganja and phensidyl.
The ED initiated probes into three separate money laundering cases based on FIRs filed by the Tripura Police under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Those under investigation include Kamini Debbarma, Bishu Tripura, and Aup Ranjan Das, among others.
According to an official statement, “The accused maintained an interstate network facilitating drug trafficking across Tripura, Assam, Bihar, and other parts of India.” The ED also revealed that proceeds of crime (POC) generated from drug sales were laundered through hawala channels and invested in benami accounts, properties, and financial instruments.
During the raids in West Tripura, South Tripura, and Sepahijala districts, authorities seized approximately 66 kgs of high-quality ganja, financial records, electronic devices, and details of benami properties, all of which point to significant illicit earnings.
Among those identified in the racket is Assistant Sub-Inspector Dhruba Majumdar, currently posted in the Crime Branch of the South Tripura SP’s office. Tripura Police is reportedly considering disciplinary and legal action against him.
In addition, officials of Tripura Gramin Bank were summoned and questioned about their alleged involvement in facilitating financial transactions for the drug cartel.
While Tripura has long been a major producer of ganja and a transit corridor for synthetic drugs, this marks the first major operation by the Central agency against prominent figures in the state's drug trade.
Investigations are ongoing as the ED continues its efforts to trace and seize the assets generated through illegal drug operations.