New Delhi, 24 October (H.S.): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Baneet Singh Talwar, the brother of a Delhi-based businessman accused in the 2021 Mundra port drug seizure case, in connection with an alleged money laundering network linked to narcotics trafficking.

According to the agency, Talwar was arrested on October 23 and subsequently produced before a special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at Tis Hazari in Delhi. The court remanded him to five days of ED custody to facilitate further investigation.

The case originates from an investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into an alleged international drug-smuggling network associated with the seizure of a massive consignment of narcotics at Gujarat's Mundra port in September 2021. Investigators have also examined related drug seizures across Delhi, Punjab and Haryana, where narcotics were allegedly concealed in consignments of semi-processed talc.

The 2021 Mundra seizure involved approximately 3,000 kg of heroin, making it one of India's most significant narcotics seizures. The subsequent investigations by multiple central agencies have sought to establish the extent of the alleged smuggling operation, identify those involved and trace the financial channels through which the proceeds may have been routed.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar