Rs 1.30 crore cash, documents seizedAizawl: The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Guwahati Zonal Office, conducted search operations under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, at 20 premises across four states, including three business establishments in Mizoram’s Champhai district bordering Myanmar, the agency said in an official statement on Monday.The ED said the raids were linked to an investigation into “a large, organised syndicate engaged in the smuggling of betel nut (areca nut) across the Indo-Myanmar border at Mizoram sector and the subsequent laundering of proceeds generated therefrom.”“The case originates from multiple FIRs registered at various police stations in Assam, involving offences under various sections of the IPC, 1860, read with the Customs Act, 1962, relating to illegal smuggling of areca nut and evasion of customs duty,” the statement said.According to the ED, the probe was initiated based on findings of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Guwahati Zonal Unit, which earlier detained and seized 655.32 metric tonnes of areca nut and the vehicles used for transportation, following directions of the Gauhati High Court.The ED said its investigation found the syndicate operated through suppliers in Mizoram, mainly Champhai district, allegedly smuggling areca nut through the Myanmar border by three women — Hmingthanzami (proprietor, M/s Beki Kuhva Dawr), Lalrinchhani (proprietor, M/s L R Store) and Lalenkawli (proprietor, M/s K L Store).It named Assam-based facilitators as Abub Ahmed Mazumder “(one of the key facilitators of the whole syndicate)” and Prodip Kumar Paul (proprietor, M/s Sarada Traders), and said consignees/financiers were spread across West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, including M/s Jay Matajee Enterprises of Falakata, M/s Nabadwip Arecanut Processing Pvt Ltd of Nabadwip, M/s Shubh Trading Company of Varanasi and M/s Chimera Infrastructure Pvt Ltd of Varanasi.The ED also said it searched premises linked to an alleged invoice provider, Shashi Kumar Choudhary (proprietor, M/s S K Enterprises) of Kolkata, and logistics facilitator M/s Bikaner Assam Roadlines India Limited (Guwahati).The statement said the syndicate smuggled foreign-origin areca nut from Myanmar across the Indo-Myanmar border via the Champhai-Zokhawthar route, adding that areca nut is not grown in the Champhai sector. It said official production data from central and state agencies showed Champhai recorded nil domestic areca nut production during the relevant years, which the ED said corroborated that consignments were of “smuggled, foreign origin.”To show the trade as legitimate, the ED alleged the use of forged GST invoices, bogus supplier/buyer firms and false transport papers. It said proceeds were layered through buyers in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh who paid Silchar/Assam hawala operators, who routed money through “mostly Mizoram Rural Bank transit accounts” to mask depositors before it reached Champhai-based smugglers, and that large cash withdrawals were then sent back to Myanmar suppliers via hawala.The ED said financial scrutiny of bank accounts, GST returns and international trade data indicated proceeds of crime “in excess of Rs 1,500 crore” were generated and layered through a web of current accounts, intermediate accounts and front/shell entities.During the searches, the ED said it seized incriminating documents, including diaries of areca nut trading, title deeds and property papers, business records, electronic devices and “unexplained cash amounting to Rs 1.30 crore.” It also said 33 bank accounts linked to the alleged smugglers were frozen.The agency further alleged that proceeds of crime were integrated into real estate, with properties purchased and developed in Champhai, Silchar, Guwahati, Nabadwip, Falakata, Kolkata and Varanasi, including independent villas and high-rise buildings in posh localities. Further investigation is in progress.
