ED arrests Harpreet Talwar, prime accused in connection with 3000 kg heroin seizure at Mundra Port
PTC News Desk: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested Harpreet Singh Talwar, a Delhi resident, in connection with its ongoing money laundering investigation linked with the seizure of nearly 3,000 kg of heroin at Gujarat's Mundra Port in September 2021.
The arrest came after the ED carried out searches at six locations in Delhi on June 24 and 25. Talwar was arrested and produced before a Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court to seek his custody. He had earlier been arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in August 2022 in the same case.
According to the ED, Talwar, also known as Kabir Talwar, is the main accused in the case. The agency searched his premises as well as those of his employees, business associates and companies linked to him before making the arrest.
The ED's headquarters investigation unit is probing the alleged import of a huge quantity of heroin that was hidden inside consignments of semi-processed talc.
The money laundering investigation began after the NIA registered an FIR against Talwar and others under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for their alleged involvement in drug smuggling.
The NIA has filed six charge sheets in the case. According to the agency, the accused were part of an international drug smuggling network allegedly run by wanted accused Vitaysh Koser, also known as Raju Dubai. The syndicate is alleged to have operated from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Dubai, with the involvement of Pakistani ISI agents and Afghan nationals.
- With inputs from agencies
