Int'l drug trafficking: After NCB, now ED steps in to probe TN film producer Jaffer Sadiq, director Ameer

CHENNAI: Stepping into the ring to tighten the noose around alleged international drug trafficking racket kingpin Jaffer Sadiq, sleuths from the Enforcement Directorate started searches at multiple locations linked to him in Chennai and other parts of the State, on Tuesday.

The Central agency has started the probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) based on the case registered by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). Official sources said it would look into the means, methods and men that the network may have used to launder money earned through drug trade.

Sadiq, a Tamil film producer and an office-bearer of ruling DMK’s NRI wing before being expelled by the party, allegedly worked as a mastermind of the cartel that smuggled narcotics worth Rs 2,000 crore in the last three years to Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia after concealing the drugs in multi-grain mix and grated coconut consignment.

During the day, the officials searched 25 premises in Chennai, Madurai and Tiruchy. The ED team was accompanied by an escort party comprising central paramilitary forces under the provisions of PMLA, sources said.

The investigators are also raiding Sadiq's house on Arulanandam Street in Santhome, his office in Purasaiwalkam, and godown in Perungudi. Sources said the premises of his business associates, including filmmaker Ameer, are also being searched. The NCB had questioned Ameer last week after summoning him to Delhi.

After remaining absconding for nearly three weeks, Sadiq was arrested by the NCB Delhi unit on March 9. His associates were arrested in Delhi in February, which revealed his alleged links to the network. So far five people, including Sadiq and his key aide Sadhanadan, have been arrested by NCB.

Sadiq was expelled by the DMK in February after his name and purported links to the cartel were mentioned by the NCB.