MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at multiple locations in Maharashtra and Gujarat on Tuesday as part of a money laundering investigation linked to drug trafficker Mohammad Salim Dola, officials said. The 59-year-old was brought back from Türkiye by India in April and was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) soon after landing at the Delhi airport.According to officials, around 20 locations in Mumbai, Surat and Ankleshwar in Gujarat’s Bharuch district were searched after the ED registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).Dola alias Salim Ismail Dola is alleged to be a close associate of globally wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim and has been accused by anti-narcotics agencies of operating a trans-national drug trafficking syndicate.According to ED officials, the searches are being carried out at premises linked to suppliers of precursor chemicals, intermediaries involved in chemical trading, traffickers engaged in the manufacture and distribution of the synthetic narcotic drug Mephedrone (MD), hawala operators and persons allegedly holding benami properties acquired using proceeds generated through the organised drug syndicate.Officials said that the money laundering case is based on multiple FIRs registered across Mumbai against Dola and others in connection with offences related to illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.(With inputs from PTI)
