The New Indian Express ·
With drug rackets on radar, ED raids multiple spots in Kerala
KOCHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted searches at several locations in Keralam as part of a larger operation across four southern states against suspected drug-trafficking networks and their financial links. The searches in the state were related to two money-laundering cases linked to the seizure of suspected hybrid ganja and MDMA worth around `18.5 crore.
The wider operation covered 30 premises across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Kerala, targeting suspects ranging from Hyderabad’s alleged ‘Ganja Queen’ Neetu Bai to Kozhikode-based Shamnad C K in money-laundering cases linked to narcotics trafficking, according to the agency.
The searches covered four locations in Ernakulam and neighbouring districts in connection with the seizure of nearly 17kg of suspected hybrid ganja in June, valued at around Rs 18 crore. The houses of four accused in Kozhikode were searched in a separate case involving the seizure of 949.26 grams of suspected MDMA at Karipur airport last October. The contraband was valued at around Rs 50 lakh.
