The Enforcement Directorate struck hard against a Goa-based international drug cartel Wednesday, conducting sweeping raids in multiple states to dismantle a sophisticated money laundering operation. This high-stakes probe has gripped the nation, revealing the underbelly of narcotics trade fueled by offshore funding.
Triggered by a massive drug bust in Goa’s beaches, the ED’s sleuths raided over 15 sites from Panaji to Punjab. Cash piles, property deeds, and banking records were hauled away, pointing to a laundering empire worth crores. Key targets include real estate firms and shell companies masking illicit gains from cocaine and MDMA shipments.
Eyewitnesses reported tense scenes as ED officers, backed by local police, sealed off upscale residences and business hubs. The agency is probing how drug lords converted black money into white through luxury assets and fake invoices. Digital forensics teams are decoding encrypted apps used for transactions.
This isn’t ED’s first rodeo in Goa; previous operations busted similar rackets. Yet, the scale here alarms experts, with links to global suppliers. As detentions mount, the raids signal a zero-tolerance era. The financial probe could freeze assets and trigger extraditions, reshaping India’s anti-drug strategy.
