Chennai, May 26 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday conducted searches at multiple locations in Chennai and Madurai as part of a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged syndicate that smuggled drugs from India to Sri Lanka via sea route, officials said.

The money laundering case stems from two cases filed by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in 2024 against a local man named John Britto and some others.

In the first instance, the DRI (Madurai) had seized 99 kg of hashish (worth about Rs 108 crore) from a fishing boat in March 2024 in the Gulf of Mannar in which three persons Ramish, Jansan and Prathap were smuggling the contraband to Sri Lanka on the instructions of Britto, the ED alleged.

In the second case, 37.64 kg of methamphetamine (worth about Rs 150 crore) was recovered in March 2024 by the DRI at Madurai railway station from the possession of a person named P Prakash.

This drug consignment was suspected to be smuggled to Sri Lanka, the agency said.

Britto, the ED claimed, was the "mastermind" of this syndicate and is a "habitual offender".

Officials said Britto and his associates involved fishermen and boat owners for transporting the drugs from Indian waters to Sri Lanka. PTI NES KVK KVK

Money laundering investigation linked to alleged drug smuggling syndicate prompts searches in Chennai and Madurai. Enforcement Directorate searches were conducted in Chennai and Madurai in a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged syndicate said to have smuggled drugs from India to Sri Lanka by sea. The case arises from Directorate of Revenue Intelligence cases concerning seizure of hashish from a fishing boat and recovery of methamphetamine at Madurai railway station. Britto was described as the alleged mastermind of the syndicate, with fishermen and boat owners allegedly used for transportation through Indian waters.