ED PMLA searches across Maharashtra and Gujarat target alleged narcotics syndicate

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) said on Friday that search operations took place at 11 sites in Maharashtra and Gujarat. The action, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), targeted an alleged international narcotics syndicate. The agency said the effort aimed to break the network and trace suspected proceeds of crime from drug sales.

According to the ED, its Mumbai Zonal Unit carried out the searches on Wednesday in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. The raids also covered Surat and Bhavnagar in Gujarat. Officials said some locations involved crypto traders, as the agency looked for suspected money trails connected to narcotics transactions.

ED PMLA searches linked to narcotics syndicateThe ED said officials seized digital devices and other materials during the operations. The agency listed high-end smartphones, laptops, and internal storage media among the items recovered. It also said teams collected commercial books of accounts, financial ledgers, and investment records that could support the money laundering probe.

The agency alleged the syndicate was headed by two individuals, Navin Chichkar and Dhiraj Chichkar, along with associates. The ED said the searches formed part of efforts to identify assets and channels used to handle proceeds from the alleged drug trade. Officials said the case focused on both the network structure and funding routes.