Agartala: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed three prosecution complaints under Sections 44 and 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, before the Special Court (PMLA) in West Tripura, against 14 people in connection with large‑scale smuggling, trafficking and money‑laundering linked to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, the agency said on Tuesday. The cases arise from offences registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and allege laundering of proceeds generated by organised drug trafficking in the state.
In the first case, the ED said the probe — launched after an FIR at Jirania police station and a subsequent chargesheet before a special court in Sonamura — names Litan Saha and another accused. Investigators allege Saha was involved in illegal trafficking of codeine‑based cough syrup; authorities seized 9,590 bottles reportedly transported through a logistics firm. The ED says the sale proceeds were routed through bank accounts by falsely presenting the transactions as income from a transport business.
The second complaint targets Debabrata Dey and others, following two FIRs registered at Panisagar and Mungiakami that led to seizures of about 1,352 kg of dry ganja and 14,400 bottles of cough syrup. Chargesheets were filed before special courts in Dharmanagar and Khowai. The agency alleges Dey, along with associates including Apu Ranjan Das, ran an organised inter‑state trafficking network that moved contraband from Tripura to Bihar and other states. A serving police officer is also accused of involvement; the ED says illicit proceeds were invested in immovable properties, several of which have been attached.
The third case concerns Bishu Kumar Tripura and others, based on multiple FIRs at Melaghar and Bishalgarh and chargesheets before the Special NDPS Court in Bishalgarh. The ED says Bishu Kumar Tripura is the prime accused and a key organiser of a trafficking network operating since 2015 with Kamini Debbarma. Allegations include laundering funds through numerous bank accounts — including those of family members and so‑called mule account holders — use of hawala channels, and investments in businesses and properties. Another accused, Bikash Debbarma, is said to have facilitated the movement of illicit funds through his bank accounts.
Altogether, properties worth about Rs 6.85 crore have been frozen, seized or provisionally attached as proceeds of crime in the three matters. Further investigation is underway, the ED added.
Original Source: https://nenow.in/north-east-news/tripura/tripura-ed-files-three-drug-trafficking-cases-freezes-rs-6-85-crore-in-assets.html
Category: Northeast News,Top News,Tripura
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Publish Date: 2026-04-01 10:45:00
