Jaipur, 14 November: In a decisive blow to narcotics trafficking, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out simultaneous search operations at five locations across Delhi-NCR and Jaipur, resulting in the seizure of a staggering 82.53 kilograms of high-grade cocaine.
The raids, which began at around 7 a.m., were orchestrated by multiple ED teams in coordination with local police forces in the national capital region and Rajasthan. Investigations reveal that the operation is part of a larger probe into an international narcotics syndicate allegedly using shell companies, hawala channels and courier networks to import and distribute large consignments of cocaine in metropolitan hubs.
According to official sources, the drug haul is estimated to be worth nearly ₹900 crore in street value, and the case has significant money-laundering dimensions with the ED now examining financial trails, overseas financiers and local handlers.
The ED has invoked the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and is carrying out searches under its ambit to uncover the entire chain of crime from import to distribution.
The agency says that this operation follows a series of high-profile seizures involving ports, airports and logistics hubs underscoring a sharpened crackdown on organised narcotics trafficking across the country.
What’s next:
• The ED is expected to seize digital data, financial records and documents from the sites in Delhi-NCR and Jaipur to map the route of the syndicate.
• Arrests of key hawala operatives, shell firm directors and local distributors are anticipated in the coming days.
• Agencies will coordinate for follow-up actions, including asset confiscation and cross-border intelligence cooperation.
This development highlights the government’s intensified focus on dismantling large-scale drug trafficking networks and their money-laundering operations, sending a strong message that such syndicates will face coordinated enforcement across jurisdictions.