Agartala, Mar 28: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Agartala Sub-Zonal Office, has provisionally attached movable and immovable assets worth Rs 1.20 crore in Tripura under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with an alleged inter-state narcotics trafficking and money laundering network.

As per an official press statement, the attached properties belong to Anamika Majumder, wife of Dhruba Majumder, and Apu Ranjan Das. The ED action is part of an ongoing investigation into a wider racket involving Debabrata Dey, Dhruba Majumder, Apu Ranjan Das, and others.

Apu Ranjan Das, a resident of the Sonamura area, is reportedly a habitual offender with multiple criminal cases registered against him. Several courts have reportedly issued non-bailable warrants against him for failing to appear in various cases.

The ED said the money laundering probe was initiated based on two FIRs filed by Tripura Police. One case was registered at Panisagar Police Station, where authorities seized 1,352 kg of dry ganja/cannabis hidden inside a vehicle cabin.

The second FIR was lodged at Mungiakami Police Station following the seizure of 14,400 bottles of Phensedyl cough syrup containing codeine phosphate, exceeding the commercial quantity limit under the NDPS Act.

During investigation, the ED found that Debabrata Dey is a repeat offender and has already been charge-sheeted in two NDPS-related cases.

The agency further alleged that Dey, along with co-accused Dhruba Majumder, a serving Tripura police officer, and others, ran an organised inter-state operation for the procurement, transport and distribution of ganja and codeine-based narcotics.

The ED stated that contraband was allegedly transported by hiding it in specially modified compartments of commercial vehicles to evade detection. The network also reportedly used the Indian Railways for transportation.

According to the ED, the proceeds generated from the illegal trade were deposited in cash across multiple bank accounts held by the accused and their associated business entities.

It was also alleged that Dhruba Majumder deposited substantial cash amounts in his bank accounts and later used the money to acquire immovable properties in his wife’s name.

The ED said further investigation into the case is underway.