ED Targets Mumbai Drug Network in Sweeping Raids on Suspected Money Laundering Operations

Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched coordinated searches at eight locations across Mumbai on Wednesday, intensifying its probe into a money laundering case tied to a sophisticated narcotics trafficking syndicate.

The operations, carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), focus on uncovering the financial trails generated by the illicit activities of Faisal Javed Shaikh and his associate Alfiya Faisal Shaikh. ED sources described the network as a “well-established” operation, with proceeds from drug sales allegedly funneled through layered transactions to obscure their origins.

At the center of the investigation is Faisal Javed Shaikh, who was apprehended by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in 2023 during a high-profile bust connected to the notorious Dawood Ibrahim gang. Authorities allege that Shaikh procured MDMA—a potent synthetic drug—directly from Salim Dola, a fugitive kingpin long sought by multiple law enforcement agencies for orchestrating narcotics smuggling and bankrolling underground syndicates. The NCB has publicly offered a substantial reward for credible tips leading to Dola’s capture, underscoring the priority placed on dismantling his influence.

Further complicating Shaikh’s profile, he was relocated in May 2025 from Mumbai’s Arthur Road Prison to Chennai’s Puzhal Central Prison. This transfer, according to officials, aimed to isolate him from potential collaborators within the same metropolitan area, thereby disrupting ongoing communications and coordination among the network’s members.

The raids mark a significant escalation in the ED’s efforts to sever the economic lifelines of drug cartels operating in urban hubs like Mumbai. As teams comb through documents, digital records, and financial ledgers at the targeted sites, the agency seeks to map the full extent of laundered funds and identify additional accomplices. No immediate arrests were reported from Wednesday’s actions, but investigators emphasized that the probe remains active, with potential for further summons and asset freezes.

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This development highlights the persistent challenges faced by Indian authorities in combating transnational drug rings, particularly those with alleged ties to infamous underworld figures. The NCB’s prior intervention in 2023 had already exposed vulnerabilities in the supply chain, and the ED’s involvement now bridges narcotics enforcement with financial oversight, aiming for a comprehensive crackdown.