Silchar: ED on Wednesday raided the residences of at least two businessmen in Silchar as part of its ongoing investigation into an alleged multi-crore Burmese betel-nut smuggling and money-laundering racket.ED officials conducted a prolonged search at the residence of businessman Dipankar Deb on Hospital Road, with security personnel deployed outside while officials examined documents, electronic devices and other materials linked to the suspected illegal trade.Deb was earlier arrested by the CID of Assam Police in connection with a betel-nut smuggling case and was later released on bail.In a parallel operation, another ED team searched the residence of businessman Jakir Hussain in Chamragudam, Silchar. The searches continued for several hours.Sources said the central agency simultaneously carried out searches at a few other locations in Cachar district and one in neighbouring Hailakandi. Based on the evidence collected, the ED is expected to prepare a report for further legal action.The latest crackdown comes barely a month after the ED’s Guwahati and Kolkata units conducted searches at two residences in Silchar linked to Abub Ahmed Mazumder, the alleged kingpin of a large-scale Burmese betel-nut smuggling and money-laundering network.Mazumder, who has been arrested multiple times by the Assam Police and CID in different cases, allegedly evaded arrest during the July 3 raids. The agency continues to probe the suspected financial trail and wider network involved in the cross-border smuggling operation.
