NEW DELHI: The Iqbal Mirchi smuggling and drug network is still thriving with his sons, Asif and Junaid Memon, running the show based out of Dubai and UK, according to investigation conducted by the Enforcement Directorate in its money laundering case registered against them.

In the last two months, the ED has identified at least five "couriers and witnesses" who have been questioned by investigating officers in Mumbai. It has been found that Mirchi used his Eden Rice Mill in London to smuggle cocaine, gold and opium. The drug smuggling network and extortion racket of the drug lord was largely funding dozens of properties acquired in the UK which are now being managed by his wife Hazra and two sons.

These key "witnesses" questioned by ED have also disclosed several other names who were active partners of Iqbal Mirchi, besides the latter's close links with Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memon, the two prime accused in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts.

One of the "witnesses" gave details of involvement of Wadhawans association with the purchase of the drug lord's properties in Mumbai for Rs 225 crore. This led to the agency arresting Dewan Housing Finance Ltd's chairman Kapil Wadhawan last month.

The ED had recently filed a detailed 100-page chargesheet in the Iqbal Mirchi money laundering case after which the agency had also attached properties of over Rs 500 crore belonging to the accused, including the two floors in the Ceejay House in Mumbai allegedly owned by family members of former civil aviation minister Praful Patel. The two floors were in the name of Mirchi's wife Hazra Memon.

The "couriers and other witnesses" associated with Mirchi's sons, running the smuggling and drugs syndicate after Mirchi's death, have been located by the enforcement agency and at least five of them have been questioned in connection with money laundered abroad.

The questioning of some of the suspects began in December 2019 and continued through last month where the ED has gathered crucial evidence. The ED, based on witnesses questioning, found evidence of Mirchi's close contacts with Mumbai bomb blasts accused Dawood Ibrahim and other Pakistan-based nationals helping the Mirchi network in smuggling and narcotics trade in India.

ED officials also questioned Mukhtar Patka, brother-in-law of Mirchi, to unearth details of other accused still active in the Mirchi gang and helping to his drugs trade.



In Video: Iqbal Mirchi's sons running his still thriving smuggling, drugs biz: ED