ED Attaches Property Worth Rs 1.5 Crore in Srinagar in Drugs Trafficking Probe
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday announced the attachment of a residential house located in Srinagar’s Bemina area, valued at Rs 1.5 crore. This action is part of an ongoing money laundering investigation tied to the alleged use of drug trade proceeds to fund terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. The house belongs to Abdul Momin Peer, who is currently under investigation.
The money laundering case originated from an FIR and subsequent chargesheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against Peer. According to the Enforcement Directorate’s statement, Peer was arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir Police with six kilograms of heroin and cash amounting to Rs 20 lakh during a routine checkpoint operation.
Further investigations by the NIA revealed that an additional Rs 1.15 crore and 15 kilograms of heroin were seized from Peer’s relatives and associates. These seizures underscored the scale of the illegal drug operations allegedly run by Peer and his network. The ED has accused Peer of being deeply involved in this illegal trade to support terror-related activities in the region.
Peer’s network included his relatives Islam-Ul-Haq Peer, Syed Iftikhar Andrabi, Syed Saleem Andrabi, and other associates. The ED’s statement highlighted that Peer, in collusion with these individuals, was engaged in the drug trade with the specific intention of financing terrorism. This illegal activity has led to multiple arrests of Peer by the Jammu and Kashmir Police on similar charges in the past.
The Bemina house, identified as a proceed of crime, was purchased in the name of Peer’s wife, Syed Sadaf Andrabi. The ED’s investigation found that the funds used to buy this property were generated from the illegal drug trade. Consequently, the house has been attached under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The attachment of the property marks a significant step in the ED’s efforts to curb the financing of terrorism through illegal activities. By confiscating assets acquired through such means, the agency aims to dismantle the financial networks supporting terror activities. The provisional order issued under the PMLA ensures that the house cannot be sold or transferred, preserving it as evidence in the ongoing investigation.
This case exemplifies the concerted efforts of Indian law enforcement agencies to tackle the dual threats of drug trafficking and terrorism. By targeting the financial foundations of such networks, agencies like the ED and NIA strive to weaken the operational capabilities of those involved in these illicit activities.
The Enforcement Directorate’s actions reflect a broader strategy to combat money laundering and its links to terrorism. As the investigation progresses, further steps are likely to be taken to identify and seize additional assets connected to Peer’s network, ensuring that those involved are held accountable and that the proceeds of their crimes are neutralized.
