The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted searches at five locations in Madurai and Chennai in connection with a drug trafficking syndicate.
The cartel is reportedly involved in smuggling 99 kg hashish (having an estimated market value of Rs 108 crore) and methamphetamine (known as ICE drugs) – 37.5 kg (with an estimated market value of Rs 150 crore) to Srilanka through the sea route.
ED initiated a money laundering investigation based on two criminal complaints filed by DRI against John Britto and others under the NDPS Act and the Customs Act.
Based on inputs received from the Indian Coast Guard, the DRI, Madurai, seized 99 kg of hashish from a fishing boat in the deep-sea region of the Gulf of Mannar on March 5, 2024. Three persons — Ramish, Jansan, and Prathap — were allegedly transporting the contraband for illegal smuggling to Sri Lanka, reportedly under the instructions of John Britto.
In another case of smuggling of 37 kg of methamphetamine, his associate, Phillomen Prakash, was caught by DRI at Madurai railway station on March 1, 2024, with the drugs.
The drugs were suspected to be smuggled to Srilanka, ED sources informed.
During the investigation, it emerged that John Britto is the mastermind of the syndicate and a habitual offender.
He and his associates allegedly involved fishermen and boat owners in safely transporting the drugs from Indian waters and illegally supplying the same to his Sri Lankan contacts in the open sea.
