Agartala: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has filed three prosecution complaints in Tripura in connection with large-scale smuggling and trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, officials said on Tuesday.
The complaints have been filed under Sections 44 and 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, before the Special Court (PMLA) in West Tripura against a total of 14 accused persons.
The cases arise from offences registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and involve laundering of proceeds generated from organised drug trafficking activities in the state.
According to the ED, the first case relates to Litan Saha and another accused. The probe was initiated on the basis of an FIR registered by Tripura Police at Jirania police station. A chargesheet was later filed before a special court in Sonamura.
The investigation revealed that Saha was allegedly involved in illegal trafficking of codeine-based cough syrup, including a seizure of 9,590 bottles, which were transported through a logistics firm. The proceeds were allegedly routed through bank accounts under the guise of a transport business.
The second case involves Debabrata Dey and others. The ED initiated the probe based on two FIRs registered at Panisagar and Mungiakami police stations relating to seizures of 1,352 kg of dry ganja and 14,400 bottles of cough syrup. Chargesheets were filed before special courts in Dharmanagar and Khowai.
The agency alleged that Dey and his associates, including Apu Ranjan Das, ran an organised inter-state drug trafficking network transporting contraband from Tripura to Bihar and other states.
A serving police officer was also allegedly involved in the conspiracy and invested illicit proceeds in immovable properties, several of which have been attached.
The third case pertains to Bishu Kumar Tripura and others, based on multiple FIRs registered at Melaghar and Bishalgarh police stations, involving seizures of large quantities of ganja, including 3,390 kg in one instance. Chargesheets were filed before the Special NDPS Court in Bishalgarh.
The ED said Bishu Kumar Tripura was the prime accused and key organiser of a drug trafficking network operating since 2015 in partnership with Kamini Debbarma.
The accused allegedly laundered proceeds through multiple bank accounts, including those of family members and mule account holders, besides using hawala channels and investing in businesses and properties.
Another accused, Bikash Debbarma, allegedly facilitated the routing of illicit funds through his bank accounts.
In total, properties worth approximately Rs 6.85 crore have been frozen, seized, or provisionally attached as proceeds of crime in the three cases.
Further investigation is underway, the agency said.