Agartala: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached movable and immovable properties worth about Rs 1.20 crore in connection with an inter-state drug trafficking and money laundering case involving Debabrata Dey and his associates, officials said on Saturday.
The action was carried out by the ED’s Agartala sub-zonal office under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. The attached assets are in the names of Anamika Majumder, wife of co-accused Dhruba Majumder, and another accused, Apu Ranjan Das.
The probe was initiated on the basis of two FIRs registered by Tripura Police. One case, lodged at Panisagar police station, involved the seizure of 1,352 kg of dry ganja concealed inside a vehicle cabin. The second case, registered at Mungiakami police station, pertained to the seizure of 14,400 bottles of Phensedyl cough syrup containing codeine phosphate in excess of the commercial quantity. Both offences fall under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and are scheduled offences under the PMLA.
According to the ED, Debabrata Dey was allegedly involved in multiple NDPS cases and operated an organised inter-state network along with co-accused, including Dhruba Majumder, a serving police officer, for the procurement, transportation and distribution of ganja and codeine-based substances.
Investigators said the contraband was transported across states by concealing it in specially designed cavities in commercial vehicles and, in some instances, through rail routes to evade detection.
The agency further alleged that proceeds of crime generated from the trafficking were deposited in cash into multiple bank accounts held by the accused and their business entities. It said Dhruba Majumder used such funds to acquire immovable properties in the name of his wife.
Officials added that Apu Ranjan Das is a habitual offender with multiple cases registered against him, and that non-bailable warrants have been issued by courts due to his repeated non-appearance.
Further investigation is under way, the ED said.