NT Reporter
Panaji
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Panaji zonal office has filed a chargesheet under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the ongoing money laundering investigation pertaining to international drug trafficking against seven accused persons.
The accused are Vedasto Audax (Tanzanian national), Tariro Brightmore Mangwana (Zimbabwe national), Masoom Uikey, Chirag Dudhat, Reshma and her husband Mangesh Wadekar, both from Sada, Mormugao, and Nibu Vincent from Baina, Vasco.
ED said that a comprehensive investigation was initiated based on an FIR registered by the Crime Branch of the Goa police in connection with the smuggling of 4.325 kg of cocaine into India from Laos.
In accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of the PMLA, ED had issued a Provisional Attachment Order (PAO) dated October 18, amounting to Rs 45.15 lakh – one house at North 24 Parganas, West Bengal belonging to one of the accused Reshma Wadekar who had carried 4.3 kg of cocaine to India from Vientiane in March 2025 in one of her drug trafficking instances.
“The financial investigation conducted so far by ED has revealed generation of POC to the tune of Rs 88.14 lakh associated with the drug trafficking,” ED said.
The ED investigation revealed the accused person’s linkages related to international rackets operating from the Golden triangle, Middle East, Nepal, Bangladesh etc, and networks responsible for procurement and distribution of narcotic substances and money laundering associated with it, clearly demonstrating the global dimensions of the syndicate. Further investigation is ongoing to identify additional beneficiaries, facilitators, and assets derived from
the POC.
ED investigation also revealed the use of shell entities and benami accounts for routing funds, thereby disguising the origin of the money earned through drug trafficking.
On August 19, ED
had conducted nationwide search operations at
multiple locations across Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Goa, Haryana, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh.
“These operations had resulted in the seizure of significant digital evidence, incriminating documents, and the freezing of several bank accounts suspected to be linked to the laundering of Proceeds of Crime (POC),” ED said.
During investigation, Mangwana was arrested for his central role in facilitating International narcotics trafficking and laundering illicit POC generated from smuggling of narcotics drugs.
“He was found to have facilitated travel arrangements and financed the Indian nationals acting as drug couriers. Mangwana was found to be receiving commission for these activities from the key accused Audax,” said ED.
ED said it reiterates
its commitment to unearth and dismantle drug trafficking networks by targeting their financial infrastructure.
“This action forms part of the larger national objective under the ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan’, aimed at creating a drug-free India. The ED remains steadfast in its resolve to trace, identify, and attach all assets generated through illegal drug trade and money laundering,” said ED.
