New Delhi/Aizawl, November 27, 2025 – In a major crackdown on cross-border drug trafficking, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out its first-ever searches along the India-Myanmar border on Thursday, targeting a money laundering case linked to narcotics. This operation also extended to locations in Assam and Gujarat, marking a significant step in India’s efforts to dismantle networks involved in the illegal trade of precursor chemicals and synthetic drugs.

The ED officials said the raids were conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), focusing on firms and individuals allegedly involved in facilitating financial transactions for drug smugglers. During the operation, officials seized ₹35 lakh in cash along with several digital devices, which are expected to provide further evidence of illicit financial dealings.

Scope and Locations of the Raids

The searches targeted multiple sites across Aizawl and Champhai in Mizoram, Sribhumi in Assam, and Ahmedabad in Gujarat. These regions are considered critical in the logistics of cross-border smuggling, given Mizoram’s proximity to the porous international boundary with Myanmar. India shares a 1,643 km-long border with Myanmar, which has historically been exploited by organized crime syndicates involved in the production and trafficking of synthetic drugs.

According to ED sources, this was the first time the federal probe agency conducted such extensive raids along the border, signaling a more aggressive approach to tackling narco-trafficking networks that operate across multiple states and international boundaries.

Financial and Operational Links

The investigation, according to ED officials, has revealed complex financial linkages between certain firms in Mizoram and companies based in Gujarat. The Gujarat-based firms reportedly supplied Pseudoephedrine tablets and Caffeine Anhydrous to Mizoram-based entities, chemicals that are critical precursors in the synthesis of methamphetamine.

Further analysis indicated that these Mizoram firms maintained transactional relationships with Kolkata-based shell companies, which allegedly procured consignments of Caffeine Anhydrous. The precursor chemicals were reportedly transported from India to Myanmar, where they were processed into methamphetamine before being smuggled back into India, predominantly through Mizoram.

The raids and ongoing interrogations are aimed at uncovering the full financial architecture of the narco-hawala networks, which, according to the ED, include deposits totaling ₹52.8 crore spread across bank accounts in Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, West Bengal, Tripura, and Delhi.

Hawala Channels and Cross-Border Operations

Officials highlighted that these networks rely heavily on hawala operations—informal and unregulated money transfer systems—to move proceeds of drug sales across states and borders. The agency is currently questioning multiple hawala operators to trace the flow of funds and identify additional links to the production and trafficking of narcotics.

“The precursor chemicals used in methamphetamine production are transported to Myanmar through the porous border. After processing, the finished drugs are sent back to India, primarily through Mizoram,” said an ED official involved in the operation.

The investigation underscores how cross-border drug syndicates exploit weaknesses in both regulatory oversight and geographic vulnerabilities. By tracing the financial flows alongside the physical movement of chemicals and drugs, the ED aims to disrupt the entire chain—from sourcing raw chemicals to trafficking finished narcotics in India.

Significance of the Raids

The operation is seen as a watershed moment for India’s fight against synthetic drug trafficking. While enforcement agencies have frequently intercepted drugs along the northeastern borders, this marks the first instance of coordinated financial and field raids along the India-Myanmar boundary, targeting both the money laundering networks and the precursor chemical suppliers.

Experts note that synthetic drugs like methamphetamine pose severe public health and law enforcement challenges, and the combination of cross-border smuggling and hawala networks has made it difficult for authorities to track and dismantle these operations effectively.

By conducting simultaneous searches in Mizoram, Assam, and Gujarat, the ED is signaling a comprehensive approach—tackling the production, financial, and distribution arms of these networks. Officials also emphasized the role of technology, particularly the seizure of digital devices, which could provide critical evidence of communication and coordination between traffickers and shell companies.

Next Steps

The ED is expected to follow up the raids with detailed financial and forensic analysis of the seized devices, cash, and bank records. Further interrogations of hawala operators and other suspects are ongoing, and additional arrests could be made as the investigation progresses.

This operation also aligns with broader efforts by Indian authorities to strengthen border surveillance, curb drug trafficking, and dismantle illicit financial networks that fund criminal enterprises. It highlights the importance of cross-agency coordination between the ED, Customs, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), and local police in tackling increasingly sophisticated drug syndicates.

Broader Implications

With Myanmar continuing to serve as a hub for methamphetamine production in Southeast Asia, northeastern India remains a critical entry point for synthetic drugs into the country. By disrupting these networks at multiple points—financial, production, and logistical—the ED aims to reduce both the supply of illicit drugs and the associated social harms, including addiction and organized crime.

The operation is likely to set a precedent for future cross-border anti-drug initiatives, combining legal, financial, and operational tools to target criminal syndicates operating across state and national boundaries. Authorities have urged the public and businesses to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, reinforcing the role of community awareness in complementing law enforcement efforts.

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