Enforcement Directorate today conducted multiple searches against international narcotics money laundering networks in the national capital and Amritsar in coordination with Australian Police.
According to preliminary inputs, the agency has detained three alleged Hawala dealers and seized some cash and computer peripherals after the searches, done on the request of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), which is probing a similar nexus.
"The case pertains to an international syndicate of drug dealers which was generating stash funds and laundering the proceeds of this illegal trade. The Australians have been informed about the developments after searches ended today," an ED source said.
The AFP has also acknowledged the joint operation.
"A joint international effort to disrupt a sophisticated transnational money laundering network yesterday resulted in 13 search warrants being conducted across Australia, with a further nine search warrants conducted by the Indian Enforcement Directorate in India," the AFP said in a statement.
The operations were limited to the two cities with the hub being Amritsar in Punjab as sources said the worldwide narcotics trade was being handled from here.
"In ongoing bilateral cooperation between the Enforcement Directorate and the Australian Federal Police a major crackdown was successfully made in Amritsar and Delhi on a suspected hawala and money laundering syndicate linked with narcotic drugs proceeds of crime," the AFP said.
Sources said the ED has registered at least two cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against the individuals who have been detained and further probe was on.
