ED raids six states in drug probe

New Delhi

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted coordinated raids across six states in connection with a money laundering case linked to a major drug trafficking network originally busted by the Punjab Police in 2024.

According to official sources, the raids were carried out at over 15 locations spread across Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra. The operation stems from a case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Punjab Police’s Special Task Force (STF).

The STF had earlier booked two known drug peddlers and an alleged middleman, Alex Paliwal, under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of seven individuals and the seizure of a large quantity of pharmaceutical drugs used in the manufacture of narcotics.

Sources revealed that the ED’s search operations targeted several pharmaceutical firms believed to be involved in the illegal drug supply chain. These include Biogenetic Drugs Pvt Ltd, CB Healthcare, Smilax Pharmachem Drug Industries, Soul Health Care (India) Pvt Ltd, and Aster Pharma, along with related individuals.

Authorities suspect these companies may have played a role in producing or distributing precursor chemicals used for narcotic manufacturing. Financial transactions and assets linked to the accused are now under scrutiny. The ED has intensified efforts to dismantle the syndicate’s financial backbone and trace the laundering of drug-related proceeds through corporate and individual networks.