ED seeks details of NDPS Act convictions in Punjab to file money laundering cases

LUDHIANA: In a significant development in fight against drugs in Punjab, Jalandhar-based zonal office of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sought details of Punjab drug trafficking convicts, convicted under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, from the special task force (STF) on drugs, all police commissioners and SSPs across the state, Narcotics Control Bureau, and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

“We have already written letters to the anti-drug STF head of Punjab as well as to all the SSPs and commissioners of police seeking specific details about the convictions under NDPS Act in the last two years,” a senior ED official said. As soon as the ED gets the data, it would start the process of registration of money laundering cases.

According to highly-placed sources, ED has written to all these departments for making suitable references in convicted cases where substantial proceeds of drug money are found laundered in form of immovable and huge movable assets, where kingpins and main persons are convicted, where terror financing angle is present or international syndicate is busted.

This development comes in the wake of a recent high court order in which the ED was directed to register cases of money laundering against all those convicts in Punjab who have been convicted under NDPS Act. The high court had given three months to ED to register cases under the Prevention Of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED is currently zeroing in on bigger names and kingpins and after booking them, the department will go after petty drug peddlers as well.

Notably in its order dated January 22, 2019, the high court said, “The director, directorate of enforcement/additional /joint /deputy or its delegates are directed to register cases against all the convicts who are convicted under Section(s) 15,16,17,19,20,21,22,23,24,25-A,27-A and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs And Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 throughout the state of Punjab within a period of three months from today to curb the illegal transportation of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and also to prevent money laundering. The principal secretary (home) to the government of Punjab is also directed to issue directions to all the investigating officers throughout the state of Punjab to register cases against the person (s) under Section 27-A of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act,1985 who are involved in financing, directly or indirectly in any of the activities as per the act to reduce the menace of drug abuse in the society immediately.”