ED Freezes 100+ ‘Mule’ Accounts, Seizes ₹70 Lakh in Cocaine Trafficking Case
In a major blow to drug trafficking and money laundering, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has frozen over 100 ‘mule’ bank accounts and seized ₹70 lakh in cash tied to a high-profile cocaine smuggling network. The operation reveals how drug cartels exploit financial systems to launder illicit profits.
Key Details of the ED Raid
- Locations Raided: Delhi, Mumbai, Goa
- Cash Seized: ₹70 lakh (suspected drug proceeds)
- Accounts Frozen: 100+ ‘mule’ accounts used for layering transactions
Acting on intelligence, ED officials targeted individuals who allowed their accounts to be used for laundering drug money in exchange for commissions. The syndicate used shell companies and dummy accounts to obscure the money trail before reinvesting it into narcotics.
Link to International Cocaine Smuggling
The case is tied to a pan-India cocaine trafficking ring with South American connections. Mumbai and Goa served as key hubs due to high demand in nightlife and tourist spots.
An ED official stated: “This is narco-terror financing—funds were routed via offshore accounts and hawala channels.”
How Drug Cartels Use ‘Mule’ Accounts
- Recruitment: Cartels lure students, jobless youth, or low-income earners with quick cash.
- Operation: Mules hand over account details; cartels deposit and move drug money rapidly.
- Legal Risks: Mules face 7+ years in jail under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Next Steps & Legal Action
- Multiple arrests made under PMLA.
- International cooperation to track offshore transactions.
- Possible links to NCB drug cases under investigation.
Expert Take: How to Stop Money Mules?
Financial analysts urge AI-driven banking alerts to flag suspicious activity faster. Public outrage grows over exploitation of vulnerable groups.
“This bust exposes India’s need for stronger anti-money laundering laws.” — Former RBI Official
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— Reported by [Your Name], Senior Correspondent
