Siliguri/Cooch Behar, Oct. 1 -- The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Guwahati Zonal Office, on Thursday conducted searches at 16 locations across West Bengal and Assam as part of a money-laundering investigation into an alleged syndicate involved in smuggling foreign-origin areca nuts into India through the India-Myanmar border.
In Siliguri, searches were carried out at multiple residential and business premises linked to transporter Dhiraj Ghosh, a Bagdogra resident, and his associate Sandeep Baid, a resident of Burdwan Road. The premises searched included locations at Panitanki More, Sevoke Road and Bagdogra.
ED officials reportedly examined financial transactions, business records, transport documents and other materials. Though the agency has not officially disclosed details of any seizure or recovery, bank employees carrying a cash-counting machine and trunks were seen arriving at Ghosh's Bagdogra residence. In Cooch Behar, the agency simultaneously searched multiple properties allegedly linked to betel nut trader Binoy Barman. The operation began at his residence in Jorai Balakuthi area of Baksirhat in Tufanganj Subdivision. Searches were also conducted at a multi-storey house in Ward 4 of Cooch Behar town and another property at Ma Bhabani Chowpatty.
Central forces were deployed at the Cooch Behar locations as ED officials examined documents and other materials. Bank employees carrying a cash-counting machine were also seen entering the Ward 4 property.
According to sources, the searches form part of a wider probe into an alleged network that brings Indonesian and Thai areca nuts into Mizoram through Myanmar before transporting them to other parts of the country.
ED sources alleged that local residents were used as front proprietors of firms through which "hundreds of crores of rupees" were allegedly routed. The foreign-origin areca nuts were subsequently transported to gutka and pan masala manufacturers in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra, allegedly using forged GST and transport documents.
Investigators are also examining the alleged role of a Siliguri-based network that reportedly collected monthly payments from truck operators. Sources alleged that the payments were made for tokens purportedly guaranteeing uninterrupted passage of consignments from the Assam border through Bengal and Bihar.
The ED has not yet issued an official statement detailing the searches, alleged transactions or any recoveries.
Those associated with the Cooch Behar searches also declined to comment.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.