The Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized incriminating material and digital devices during searches across 11 premises in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra) as well as Surat and Bhavnagar (Gujarat) linked to trace international drug trafficking network, an official said on Friday.

The ED’s Mumbai Zonal Office-L, conducted search operations on Wednesday, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, against international narcotics syndicate led by Navin Chichkar, Dhiraj Chichkar, and their aides, the official said in a statement.

Searches were conducted to trace the modus through which drug sale proceeds received mainly in cash, infused in financial economy and further layered so as to project the same as legitimate income, the statement said.

The searches across 11 premises in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra), as well as Surat and Bhavnagar (Gujarat) were intended to trace the drug trafficking network and proceeds of crime (PoC) generated through the illicit drug trade acquired by a well-established international narcotics syndicate, it added.

The ED investigation was initiated on the basis of a complaint filed by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Mumbai, under various provisions of the NDPS Act, following the seizure of substantial quantities of high-grade hydroponic cannabis (Ganja), cocaine and unaccounted cash in Mumbai/Navi Mumbai.

Navin Chichkar and others were allegedly involved in an established international network engaged in the sale of cocaine, hydroponic cannabis, LSD and cannabis edibles, largely sourced from outside India, the statement said.

During the searches, various incriminating material and digital devices, including high-end smartphones, laptops, and internal storage media, along with commercial books of accounts, financial ledgers, and investment records were seized, it added.

The searches revealed that proceeds generated from the sale of narcotic drugs were routed and cash was converted into foreign currencies, including US dollars and Thai Baht, which were subsequently made available to the accused, it said.

Moreover, proceeds of crime in cash were also invested in certain legitimate businesses so that the same is shown as untainted money, the statement said.

Searches were also conducted at the premises relating to “Crypto Trader(s)” which revealed details of certain “Crypto Wallets/Assets prima-facie linked to the proceeds of crime, the ED said.

It is gathered that the suspected persons was operating a number of Crypto trading accounts from outside India. The identified details are being examined to trace linked accounts, transaction histories, and to secure proceeds of crime, the ED said.

The Delhi Police have busted an illegal gambling network in the Model Town area of North-West Delhi and apprehended 10 people allegedly involved in gambling activities, officials said on Friday.

The Anti-Burglary Cell of the North-West District Police conducted the raid and recovered Rs 11,300 in cash, a mobile phone used for online satta parchi writing, 244 satta slips, five carbon papers, three writing pads, a calculator and three pens.

According to the police, the operation was carried out on October 28 following secret information about illegal gambling activities involving the writing of satta parchis at Rajpura, Gudmandi, Delhi, also known as Raddi’s Adda, under the jurisdiction of Model Town police station.

Acting on the information, a team from the Anti-Burglary Cell conducted a raid at the identified location and apprehended 10 people who were allegedly found actively participating in gambling activities.

The police team comprised ASI Rakesh, Head Constables Ajay and Rajpal, and Dharamraj.

During the raid, the police recovered Rs 11,300 in cash and several items used in the gambling operation. These included a mobile phone suspected to have been used for online satta parchi writing, 244 satta parchis, five carbon papers, three writing pads, one calculator and three pens.

Following the operation, an FIR (No. 413/26) dated October 28 was registered at Model Town police station under Sections 12 and 9/55 of the Gambling Act, as mentioned in the police statement.

The 10 apprehended persons have been identified as Tazuddin, 39, a resident of Rajpura, Gudmandi; Mahender, 42, also a resident of Rajpura, Gudmandi; Deepak, 42, of New Gupta Colony, Model Town; and Aasha Ram, 45, of Old Gupta Colony, Model Town.

The other accused have been identified as Mahesh, 53, of Kabir Nagar; Mohit Kumar, 25, of Rajpura, Gudmandi; Ashok Kumar, 49, who lives at Sonu Ka Makan in Yadav Chowk, Rajpura, Gudmandi; Giriraj, 44, of Rajpura, Gudmandi; Suraj, 47, of Rajpura, Gudmandi; and Umesh, 35, who resides at Bittu Ka Makan in Rajpura, Gudmandi.

The police said the operation was part of their efforts to curb illegal gambling activities in the district.

Further investigation is underway.

The Mumbai Police have arrested another accused from Haryana’s Sonipat district in connection with the firing incident targeting Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff’s car, taking the total number of arrests in the case to 12, including nine people from Sonipat.

The latest accused, identified as Amar, was arrested from Rohna village in Sonipat. The arrest has further strengthened the Sonipat connection in the case, with investigators examining financial transactions and links between the accused.

According to the investigation, Amar is a friend and neighbour of Kunal, who was arrested earlier in the case. Police investigations have revealed that Kunal allegedly transferred Rs 40,000 to Amar’s bank account.

Amar subsequently transferred Rs 12,000 to Radha’s bank account, another accused arrested earlier, allegedly on Kunal’s instructions.

The Mumbai Police are now investigating these financial transactions to establish the purpose of the transfers and determine the connections between the accused. The money trail is being examined as part of the wider investigation into the firing incident.

Amar, who studied up to Class 10, works at a supplements shop. His parents reportedly earn their livelihood through daily-wage labour.

Following his arrest, the Mumbai Police produced Amar before a court and are preparing to take him to Mumbai on transit remand for further investigation.

Meanwhile, Amar’s family has claimed that he is innocent and alleged that he has been falsely implicated in the case.

With nine of the 12 arrested accused reportedly belonging to Sonipat, the district has emerged as a key focus of the Mumbai Police investigation.

The police are examining the financial dealings and personal connections among the accused to establish the sequence of events and identify the roles played by individual suspects.

Meanwhile, encrypted messaging platforms Signal and Zangi were allegedly used by the accused to communicate. Police officials are facing significant challenges in decoding these digital exchanges, as tracing conversations conducted over the past eight months is considered crucial to uncovering the alleged conspiracy.