ED Searches Properties in Anna Nagar in Drug Money Laundering Probe

Enforcement Directorate sleuths on Thursday conducted searches across multiple locations in Chennai, including Anna Nagar and Perambur, targeting properties linked to suspects accused in major narcotics and drug smuggling cases. The raids formed part of an extensive coordinated operation spanning Tamil Nadu and other parts of south India to track financial networks tied to illicit narcotics operations.

In Chennai and Nagapattinam, a team from the ED’s Zone 1 searched at least 10 properties associated with Nizaruddin and Syed, as well as locations belonging to their relatives. Both individuals had previously been arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau on drug smuggling charges. Within Chennai, agency sleuths concentrated their inspections across four specific locations, including the residential and commercial neighbourhoods of Anna Nagar and Perambur.

Simultaneously, the ED’s Zone 2 unit carried out searches at eight premises linked to Alex Mahalingam in Nagapattinam. Alex was arrested by the NCB in April last year after being found in possession of 1 kilogram of amphetamine. According to investigators, he also faces multiple pending criminal cases registered against him in Velankanni and Keelaiyur.

Agency sources indicated that the suspects under scrutiny had constructed luxury bungalows and acquired multiple real estate assets registered in the names of their relatives and friends. The ongoing probe has been initiated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act to ascertain whether these properties were purchased using proceeds of crime generated from illegal narcotics distribution and subsequent money laundering networks.

The enforcement action follows earlier measures taken in May, when the agency carried out searches in Chennai and Ramanathapuram in connection with cross-border smuggling networks transporting narcotic substances to Sri Lanka from Ramanathapuram. Similar search operations under the wider crackdown were also underway across eight locations in Kochi as well as other southern states.