Over a year after Goa’s ‘biggest seizure of LSD blots’, ED raids across country in narcotics trafficking case

Sasikala and an aide were arrested by the ANC, and narcotics worth Rs 1.1 crore, including 1,825 LSD blot papers, cocaine, charas and dimethyltryptamine (DMT) were recovered from their possession. At the time, police called it the “biggest seizure of LSD blots” in Goa in recent years. A subsequent police probe found that the accused allegedly procured a huge consignment of drugs through the “dark net” and supplied them to his customers, mostly from the party circuit in major cities across the country.

The search operations have revealed the existence of a “well-organised inter-state drug trafficking syndicate”, the ED said. “Further, the distribution of narcotic substances on a business-to-business basis has been traced across multiple states, namely Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Kerala,” it said. The ED has seized a “substantial amount of cash”, along with narcotic substances including charas and other contraband, incriminating documents and digital devices.

“Analysis of the seized digital devices and documents has revealed evidence indicating large-scale supply of narcotic substances, including MDMA, ecstasy, hash, kush, shrooms, rashol cream, cocaine, super cream, etc., within India and across multiple states; systematic use of courier and postal channels for the transportation of narcotic substances; channelisation of proceeds of crime through UPI, bank transfers, cryptocurrency and cash transactions; and layering and concealment of proceeds of crime through the use of complex financial channels,” the ED said.

The investigation has further revealed linkages with suppliers and the active involvement of multiple associates and facilitators in the narcotics supply chain and laundering of illicit proceeds, it said.

“The ED is in the process of sharing pertinent information emerging from the investigation with other relevant law enforcement agencies for appropriate action in accordance with law,” the ED said.