Agartala, Mar 27: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Agartala Sub Zonal Office, has provisionally attached movable and immovable properties worth Rs 2.21 crore belonging to Bishu Kumar Tripura, Kamini Debbarma and Bikash Debbarma.

According to an official press release, the assets were attached under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 which was accumulated from large-scale Ganja (Cannabis) trafficking from Tripura and the same was laundered using various bank accounts and others.

The Directorate of Enforcement initiated investigation under PMLA, 2002 based on multiple FIRs registered by Tripura Police against Bishu Kumar Tripura and others -- FIR by Melaghar Police Station (seizure of 243 Kg of Dry Ganja) and FIR by Bishalgarh Police Station (seizure of 3,390 Kg of Dry Ganja).

On the basis of the FIRs, the ED registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 and conducted searches at the various residential premises including Bishu Kumar Tripura where authorized officers of ED, found Ganja weighting 66 kg from his dwelling house. Thereafter, a separate FIR was registered by Melaghar Police Station (recovery of 66 Kg of Dry Ganja). The predicate offences are under various Sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) and Indian Penal Code, 1860.

ED investigation revealed that Bishu Kumar Tripura and Kamini Debbarma were partners in the organised business of illegal Ganja trafficking. The contraband was procured from Sepahijala district of Tripura and transported and sold to West Bengal, Bihar and other states.

The Proceeds of Crime received largely in cash through Hawala/ Hundi channels and were deposited in the bank accounts of themselves and their family members, and thereafter invested in immovable properties, vehicles, a brick field business, and a flat in Kolkata.

Fabricated balance sheets with false figures of income and expenditure were prepared to project illicit proceeds as legitimate business earnings. Bikash Debbarma, an associate, knowingly allowed his bank accounts to be used for routing and receiving Proceeds of Crime on the instructions of Bishu Kumar Tripura and Kamini Debbarma, thereby facilitating cross-border movement and laundering of tainted funds.

Further investigation is under progress, ED said.