Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Mumbai has provisionally attached immovable and movable properties worth Rs. 5.37 Crore belonging to accused Ali Asgar Shirazi and others under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The attached seven (07) immovable properties worth Rs. 5 Crore (approx.) are in the form of Flats, Shop and Lands belonging to Ali Asgar Shirazi, Mehreen Shirazi, Abdul Samad, Manoj Patel and Bhavesh Shah and the movable properties worth Rs. 36.81 Lakh are in the form of fixed deposits (FDs) and balance in the bank accounts of Ramlakhan Patel, Shobha Patel and M/s Hustlers Hospitality Private Limited.
ED had initiated investigation on the basis of FIR registered by Jogeshwari Police Station, Mumbai under various sections of NDPS Act, 1985 and Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 against Ali Asgar Shirazi & others.
ED investigation revealed that the drug syndicate operated by Ali Asgar Shirazi & Ors. Included Telecommunication Companies running call centres/websites, Logistic Companies, Consultancy Companies
and Dummy Pharma Companies wherein illegal shipping of opioids from India to foreign countries and routing of the proceeds of the sale of the same to India using various channels were done.
Orders for opioid drugs from USA and UK were received by call centers based in India and the opioid drugs were procured from dummy pharma companies and transported out of India through logistic companies. A network of logistics and consultancy companies were used for laundering the proceeds of crime generated through illegal sale of drugs. Further, it was revealed that various companies incorporated in USA by members of this syndicate had been operating Payment Gateways.
The said payment gateways have been used by this syndicate to route the proceeds of crime generated through illegal sale of opioids in USA to India. During the investigation, it was found that there were huge cash deposits in the accounts linked to Ali Asgar Shirazi and related persons/entities, which are part of proceeds of crime generated through illegal selling of various drugs. Proceeds of Crime ( PoC) ascertained
so far is around Rs 44.50 Crore.
Earlier, ED had conducted search operations at various locations in this case which led to seizure/freezing of bank accounts, FDs, gold/ jewellery etc. amounting to Rs 2.9 Crore approximately. Further, the main accused Ali Asgar Shirazi was arrested on 05.01.2024 and is presently under Judicial custody, further investigation is under progress.