ED attaches ₹1.20 crore assets in Tripura drug trafficking and money laundering case involving police officer and interstate racket. Massive ganja and codeine seizures expose organized network, with investigation ongoing under PMLA and NDPS Act.
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Agartala Sub Zonal Office, has provisionally attached movable and immovable properties worth ₹1.20 crore under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
According to an official press release, the attached assets belong to Anamika Majumder, wife of Dhruba Majumder, and Apu Ranjan Das. The action stems from an ongoing investigation into an inter-state narcotics trafficking and money laundering network involving multiple accused, including Debabrata Dey, Dhruba Majumder, and Apu Ranjan Das.
The ED initiated its probe based on two FIRs registered by the Tripura Police. The first case was filed by Panisagar Police Station following the seizure of 1,352 kilograms of dry ganja concealed within a vehicle cabin. The second FIR, lodged by Mungiakami Police Station, involved the seizure of 14,400 bottles of Phensedyl cough syrup containing Codeine Phosphate in quantities exceeding the commercial threshold. Both cases fall under the ambit of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act), making them scheduled offences under the PMLA.
Investigations have revealed that Debabrata Dey is a habitual drug trafficker who has already been charge-sheeted in two separate NDPS cases. Authorities further uncovered that he, along with Dhruba Majumder—a serving police officer in Tripura—and other associates, orchestrated a well-organized inter-state racket. The network specialized in the illegal procurement, transportation, and distribution of cannabis and codeine-based narcotics across state borders.
To evade law enforcement, the accused reportedly concealed contraband in specially modified compartments within commercial vehicles. In some instances, Indian Railways was also allegedly used as a means of transport, raising concerns over the scale and sophistication of the operation.
The ED’s probe also traced the financial trail of illicit earnings generated through the drug trade. According to officials, the proceeds of crime were funneled into multiple bank accounts held by the accused and their associated business entities. Large cash deposits were made to disguise the illegal origin of funds.
In a critical revelation, Dhruba Majumder allegedly used these proceeds to acquire immovable properties in the name of his wife, Anamika Majumder. These assets are now part of the ₹1.20 crore attachment carried out by the ED as part of its ongoing financial investigation.
Apu Ranjan Das, described as a notorious criminal from the Sonamura region, has a history of multiple criminal cases. Due to repeated non-appearance in court proceedings, several non-bailable warrants have been issued against him by competent courts.
Officials from the Directorate of Enforcement confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing, and further attachments or legal actions may follow as more evidence emerges.
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This case underscores the growing nexus between narcotics trafficking and financial crimes, highlighting the role of stringent laws like the PMLA in dismantling organized criminal networks operating across India.
