Mumbai: NCB Cracks Down On Drug Mafia’s Illegally Acquired Properties Worth Rs 1,000 Crore
Mumbai, 1st September 2023: In a major development, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has successfully attached benami properties valued at Rs 1,000 crore, which were illicitly procured by the drug mafia. The properties located in areas including Dongri, Masjid Bandar, Colaba, and other parts of Mumbai were acquired using anonymous identities, utilising money earned from the drug trade operations.
Investigations conducted by the NCB have unveiled a disturbing pattern wherein the drug mafia has been diverting their money into anonymous properties. Moreover, the NCB investigation has also revealed that the drug syndicate has diversified its investments into warehouses and various real estate holdings across Maharashtra. What has baffled authorities is the discovery that some of these properties were registered under the names of pets, including dogs and cats, as part of their strategy to evade scrutiny.
Additionally, the NCB’s inquiry has uncovered that these criminal organisations have funnelled substantial sums into businesses involved in import-export operations and the real estate sector. In one striking instance, a woman hailing from Mumbra who was involved in the narcotics trade acquired 15 flats through these drug trade operations.
Apart from this, the drug mafia syndicates have devised yet another new technique to acquire properties. According to the NCB, these criminals have resorted to fabricating fake documents, including impersonation, to acquire properties, making it nearly impossible for law enforcement agencies to trace them.
