Jalandhar, April 4: The Enforcement Directorate has arrested Akshay Chhabra, alleged leader of an international drug syndicate operating out of Punjab, in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to heroin trafficking.
Chhabra was taken into custody on April 2 from Jalandhar under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the agency said in a statement issued Friday. He remains in ED custody.
According to investigators, Chhabra ran the syndicate from Ludhiana and used fake companies to import narcotics from Afghanistan. “He managed to import drugs from Afghanistan in the name of shell/fake entities and supplied them further,” the ED stated.
The case is based on a complaint from the Narcotics Control Bureau, which earlier seized 20.32 kg of heroin allegedly linked to Chhabra.
The ED said Chhabra, along with associates, processed smuggled morphine and raw heroin with the help of two Afghan nationals before distributing the final product to drug dealers.
The agency said the drug operation generated large proceeds of crime, which were funneled into various channels.
“Huge proceeds of crime were generated out of this illegal drug trade, which were infused in immovable properties, liquor business, and transferred out of India through different hawala channels,” the ED noted.
Chhabra’s residence had been searched in October 2023 as part of the ongoing investigation.
