In a cocaine money laundering investigation involving an ex-DMK functionary, the ED searches several sites in Tennessee

As part of a probe against former DMK functionary Jaffer Sadiq and others related to drug trafficking and money laundering, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches in several Tamil Nadu cities on Tuesday, according to sources.

According to them, ED officers are searching up to 25 locations in the state capitals of Chennai, Madurai, and Tiruchirappalli while being escorted by central paramilitary troops in accordance with the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act).

They stated that the whereabouts of Ameer, a film director, and Sadiq, who is also a producer of Tamil movies, are being covered.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) detained Sadiq, 36, last month on suspicion of helping to smuggle 3,500 kg of pseudoephedrine, which has a street worth of about Rs 2,000 crore.

In order to prosecute Sadiq and others for money laundering, the ED took notice of this NCB case in addition to a few other FIRs.

The NCB stated it was investigating Sadiq’s connections to “high-profile” individuals, Tamil and Hindi film financiers, and certain “political funding” incidents.

Following the NCB’s inclusion of Sadiq’s name and his ties to the narcotics network, the governing DMK ousted him in February.