Agartala, Jan 10: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths on Friday conducted raids in Tripura and searched the residence of a police official and premises of several people allegedly involved in drug peddling and money laundering cases, sources said.

The sources said that the ED officials conducted the raids and examined documents and various papers of the persons allegedly involved in the drug business and money laundering.

These raids were mainly conducted in various places of three districts –West Tripura, South Tripura and Sepahijala.

Around 250 security personnel, including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans, assisted the ED teams during the raids.

However, the ED has not given official confirmation about the findings of the raids.

According to the sources, the raids were conducted at the offices and residences of several key persons, who run the cross-border rackets from behind and so far remained untouched by the law enforcing agencies.

The ED teams reportedly scrutinise documents, digital evidence and other materials that could provide leads in dismantling the suspected nexus involving drug traffickers and financial offenders.

Though Tripura has become the most important producer of Ganja (marijuana) and a corridor for synthetic drugs like highly addictive methamphetamine tablets, this is the first time in Tripura that such major raids were conducted by the Central agency against the key drug players.

“In Agartala, the ED raided the houses of several illegal drug traders who have been doing the business engaging unemployed and smart semi-educated youths,” the sources said.

According to sources, the ED identified seven persons, including Dhruba Majumdar, an Assistant Sub-Inspector of Tripura Police, in the drug peddling racket. Majumdar is presently posted at the Crime Branch section under the office of the Superintendent of Police, South Tripura district and a resident at Baikhora.

According to the sources, some officials of Tripura Gramin Bank were also involved in the drug trafficking racket with some money trails linked to that bank.

The ED sleuths also summoned some Tripura Gramin Bank officials and questioned them early on Friday.

Meanwhile, just before the 2023 Tripura Assembly elections, the ED conducted raids in different places of West Tripura and Sepahijala districts as part of their investigation relating to drug trafficking cases and seized documents on bank deposits worth Rs 2 crore.

Chandigarh, Jan 10: The Border Security Force (BSF) on Friday said it has recovered a pistol and heroin dropped by Pakistani drones along the border fence in Punjab.

The BSF said that in two operations, the troops achieved significant success in thwarting cross-border smuggling attempts involving Pakistani drones.

In the first operation, a packet of heroin weighing 520 grams, dropped by a Pakistani drone, was recovered from Khanwal village in Amritsar District.

In the second operation, a PX5 Storm pistol 30 bore along with an empty magazine was recovered from a farming field ahead of the border fence near Rajatal village, also in Amritsar district.

These recoveries highlight the BSF’s prompt action and the alertness of its troops in foiling such smuggling attempts, ensuring the security of the nation, the paramilitary force added.

In 2024, the BSF Punjab Frontier, as a border guarding force, recovered 294 drones, a substantial increase from 107 drones in 2023. Additionally, approximately 283 kg of heroin was seized, four Pakistani intruders were neutralized, and 161 Indian smugglers along with 30 Pakistani nationals were apprehended from the border.

Beyond operational successes, the BSF Punjab also undertook numerous civic action programmes, including medical camps, blood donation camps, pre-recruitment training for defence forces and public outreach initiatives, all of which received widespread acknowledgement and support from the local population.

The year 2024 has been exceptional for the BSF Punjab Frontier, showcasing remarkable achievements in securing the nation’s borders.

With strengthened surveillance and determined efforts against smuggling and drone threats, the BSF Punjab remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the nation against all the threats and challenges, said the officials.

Punjab shares a 553-km barbed-wire fenced international border with Pakistan which is under the vigil of the BSF Punjab. The drug network operates along the Afghanistan-Pakistan-India route.

Mumbai: The Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) conducted raids at six locations as part of its investigation into the multi-crore fraud involving Torres Company. The raids targeted the company’s offices in Dadar, Lower Parel, and Opera House, along with the residences of three accused individuals in Colaba, Umerkhadi (Dongri), and Dombivli.

During the operation, the EOW seized ₹3 crore in cash from the company’s offices and the residences of the accused. The cash was counted using two specialized machines. Several crucial documents were also recovered. Confirming the action, a senior EOW official identified the arrested individuals as Tania Casatova (Uzbekistan) from Colaba, Valentina Ganesh Kumar (Russia) from Dombivli, and Sarvesh Surve from Umerkhadi.

According to EOW sources, absconding accused Mohammed Tausif Riaz, alias John Carter, has submitted a 182-page report. The report alleges that the same individuals behind the Torres fraud were also responsible for the 2019 B2B jewelry scam in Ukraine and Russia. This report, shared with other agencies, is currently under scrutiny.

The investigation revealed that foreign suspects, including Valentina Kumar, Tania Casatova, and Victoria Kovalenko, used fake identification documents to purchase Indian SIM cards, reportedly paying over ₹12,000 for each. The SIM cards were allegedly procured from Nepal. Two of these suspects have been arrested.

The EOW suspects that Torres Company operated a Ponzi scheme under the guise of a jewelry business. Evidence of tax evasion and money laundering has emerged. Arrested suspect Sarvesh Surve claimed he was a director and shareholder but denied involvement in the company’s operations. This claim is under investigation.

Fraud Scope and Online Activities:

The EOW is also examining Torres Company’s Instagram account, where misleading posts and videos continue to lure victims. The Cyber Cell is aiding in identifying the locations and individuals responsible for these activities. Three bank accounts linked to Torres Company have been frozen, with further efforts underway to seize additional assets.

Official estimates currently place the fraud at ₹23 crore. However, authorities suspect it could exceed ₹1,000 crore, given the increasing number of complaints.

Complaints and Seizures

DCP Sangramsingh Nishandar (EOW) confirmed that more than 350 complaint forms have been received so far. “Cash exceeding ₹3 crore, silver, stones, investment papers, and other valuables have been seized. Over 15 luxury cars were delivered to customers, with five more bookings still pending,” he stated, emphasizing that the investigation is ongoing.

A Look-Out Circular (LOC) has been issued against Victoria Kovalenko (38), a resident of Ukraine, and Mohammed Tausif Riyaz alias John Carter (33), a resident of Mumbai.