The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has frozen 110 mule bank accounts, seized Rs 70 lakh in cash, and detected the use of Dubai-based cryptocurrency wallets during raids in a money laundering probe linked to alleged drug trafficking in Delhi, according to an official statement issued on Sunday.
Mule accounts are typically opened using genuine or fake customer identities to facilitate the transfer of illegal funds.
The operation was conducted on November 14, following the ED's cognisance of a November 2024 complaint filed by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) regarding the seizure of 82.53 kg of high-grade cocaine.
The ED covered five premises in Delhi-NCR and Jaipur during the searches. The seized party drug was estimated to be worth Rs 900 crore by the NCB and five persons were arrested by the central anti-narcotics agency.
"The searches indicated an online betting and gambling network being operated through mobile-based applications.
"The operation resulted in the freezing of 110 mule bank accounts, including 73 linked with UPI IDs and digital wallets that were actively being used for handling transactions related to the betting operations," the ED statement said.
Some documents and digital devices seized during the searches show the use of Dubai-based cryptocurrency wallets for the transfer of funds, it said. Rs 70 lakh cash, "incriminating" documents, digital devices and financial records were also seized, the ED said.
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