The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) executed comprehensive search operations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, spanning various locations in Mumbai on the 16th, 17th, 19th, and 27th of October 2023. This strategic move was part of an ongoing investigation into a money laundering case lodged against Ali Asgar Shirazi, a notorious drug trafficker, and other implicated individuals.
In the course of these meticulously conducted searches, a substantial amount of evidence was unearthed. Among the findings were a cache of Rs. 5.50 lakh in cash, gold valued at Rs. 57.11 lakh, assorted digital devices encompassing mobile phones and laptops, and incriminating records. These discoveries bolstered the ED’s pursuit of justice in the face of the charges levied against Ali Asgar Shirazi and his associates.
The genesis of the ED’s involvement in this case stemmed from a First Information Report (FIR) lodged by the Jogeshwari Police Station, Mumbai, invoking various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The FIR highlighted the seizure of a substantial quantity of Ketamine weighing 15.743 kg, with an estimated street value of Rs. 7.87 crore.
The subsequent ED investigation brought to light substantial cash deposits in accounts linked to Ali Asgar Shirazi and affiliated individuals/entities. These deposits raised suspicions of illicit funds, purportedly earned through the illegal sale of drugs.
In response, the ED orchestrated four search operations across ten locations in Mumbai on the aforementioned dates, targeting the premises of Ali Asgar Shirazi and various related individuals/entities. As the investigation continues to unfold, the ED remains committed to unravelling the intricate web of financial impropriety and criminal activities associated with this case.
