ED tracks down activities, investments of Goa drug dealers

Panaji, Oct 20  :

Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths here are tracking down activities and investments made by Goa’s notorious drug dealers under money laundering laws, the agency said Monday.

“ED is constantly monitoring other active drug dealer’s activities and action under money laundering would be issued against them in due course,” it said in a statement.

An official said over Rs.80 lakh worth of investments made by arrested drug dealer Norman Azavedo have already been attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The agency also seized several documents pertaining to movable and immovable properties and other financial transactions of Azavedo and his family members.

“During the course of investigation, it was established that Norman Azavedo had invested the proceeds of crime earned by selling banned psychotropic substances in insurance policies, fixed deposits and bank balances in various banks worth Rs.80 lakh,” the official said.

Several documents pertaining to movable and immovable properties and other financial transactions made by Azavedo and his family members have also been tracked, the official added.

Azavedo, along with his associate Rajendra Gowda Patil, had been arrested last year for possession of amphetamine, used recreational drug in Goa’s party scene.

In 2009, he had also been arrested by customs officials for export of ketamine, a banned psychotropic substance.

A top beach tourism destination in the country, Goa is also known as a hub of narco tourism.

(IANS)