Posted by AI on 2025-10-10 13:11:56 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-16 18:18:55
Share: Facebook | Twitter | Whatsapp | Linkedin Visits: 7
In a dramatic crackdown on Mumbai's underworld, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has dealt a significant blow to the city's drug trade, seizing a staggering amount of cash, luxury vehicles, and uncovering a complex web of shell companies allegedly laundering over Rs 100 crore in narcotics proceeds. The October 8th operation, spanning nine strategic locations, exposed a sophisticated syndicate led by Faisal Javed Shaikh and his wife, Alfiya, who are accused of flooding the city's nightlife with MDMA sourced from notorious drug lord Salim Dola.
The ED's meticulous planning, based on intelligence from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), led to a treasure trove of evidence. Hidden safes revealed Rs 42 lakh in cash, while luxury BMWs and digital devices hinted at a lavish lifestyle funded by illicit means. But the most startling discovery was the syndicate's financial architecture. Investigators uncovered a network of shell companies, devoid of employees yet facilitating billions in phantom trades. These entities were conduits for laundering drug money through international channels, potentially reaching as far as the Middle East.
This operation sheds light on the intricate connections between local peddlers and global drug networks. The syndicate's ability to navigate both street-level dealing and international hawala rackets highlights the challenges authorities face in combating organized crime. With assets seized and prosecutions pending under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the ED's resolve to dismantle Mumbai's narco-economy is evident. The question remains: How deep do these criminal roots go, and can India's law enforcement agencies deliver a fatal blow to this pervasive underworld?