New Delhi, April 8 (). The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has raided an Indo-Sri Lankan illegal drugs and arms smuggling racket working to revive the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). One person has been arrested after raiding several places of the suspects in Chennai.
The NIA seized huge amounts of cash, gold biscuits, digital devices, drugs and documents as well as other incriminating material during the raids.
The agency started probing the racket in July 2022. So far the NIA has made 14 arrests in the case.
Earlier in December last year, 13 accused were arrested in raids at 21 places across Tamil Nadu.
Investigation of the case has revealed that proceeds of drugs and weapons smuggling in Sri Lanka were received in India through hawala agents, including Shahid Ali of Chennai. It was also found that the hawala transactions were done through hotels and businesses located in Mannadi, Chennai.
Thursday’s seizure includes Rs 68 lakh in Indian currency and 1,000 Singapore dollars, nine gold biscuits (total 300 grams) from Shahid Ali’s shop. The NIA also recovered Rs 12 lakh in Indian currency from Hotel Orange Palace in Chennai.
The suspect arrested after Thursday’s search has been identified as Ayyappan Nandu. He manages the drug trade on behalf of Muhammad Asmin, a Sri Lankan refugee and drug trafficker. He conspired with other accused to revive LTTE through drug and arms trade.
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