Chennai: Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths on Thursday carried out searches in Chennai, Nagapattinam and Ramanathapuram in places linked to three accused in narcotics and drug smuggling cases pursued by the narcotics control bureau (NCB), as part of the operation covering entire south India.In the city as well as Nagapattinam, at least 10 properties linked to Nizaruddin and Syed, who have been been arrested by NCB under drugs smuggling charges, and their relatives were searched by ED’s Zone 1 team. In Chennai, searches were carried out in four places including Anna Nagar and Perambur. Similarly, Zone 2 of Chennai ED carried out searches in eight places linked to Alex Mahalingam in Nagapattinam.Alex was arrested by NCB in April last year in possession of 1 kg amphetamine and he has multiple cases pending against him in Velankanni and Keelaiyur.ED sources said that the accused have built luxury bungalows apart from owning multiple properties in the names of their relatives and friends. ED, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, has initiated investigation to ascertain whether properties were acquired through proceeds of crime from their illegal drug business and money laundering.It maybe recalled that ED had in May carried out searches in Chennai and Ramanathapuram in connection with cross-border smuggling of narcotic substances to Sri Lanka from Ramanathpuram.ED searches are underway in eight places in Kochi, as well as other southern states.
