An Indian drug law enforcement agency, the Telangana Eagle Force, has dismantled a major hawala network responsible for laundering drug money, seizing over $30m (Rs 264 crore) and apprehending 20 people across five states.
The operation is a continuation of a prior drug bust that exposed a sophisticated system used by foreign cartels to repatriate illicit profits from India.
The investigation, according to New Delhi Television, began following the arrest of a Nigerian, Esomchi Kenneth, also known as Maxwell, who was caught attempting to sell cocaine and Ecstasy pills.
A detailed analysis of his financial records revealed 150 recent transactions, showing he earned over $6.8m (Rs 598 crore) in commissions, which were routed to his associates in Nigeria.
This single case underscored the scale of operations carried out by foreign drug dealers in the country.
Further investigation by the Eagle Force unearthed a well-organised hawala ring led by key operators, including Uttam Singh, Chetan Mamania, and others.
The network’s modus operandi was intricate: Uttam Singh would collect approximately $2.5m (Rs 220 crore) from Nigerian drug peddlers in Goa, routing a staggering $21m (Rs 184 crore) weekly through hawala operators.
This money did not physically move but was adjusted against commodities trading. The drug money was used to purchase goods such as baby frocks, kurtas, T-shirts, human hair, and groceries from merchants in Mumbai and Chennai, which were then shipped to Lagos, Nigeria.
In a massive coordinated effort, 24 special Eagle Teams conducted raids across Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa, and Delhi.
The raids resulted in the arrest of 20 drug money launderers and their accomplices, bringing the total number of accused in the case to 50.
Key arrests included Chetan Mavji Mamania and Ronak Prajapathi, with authorities seizing a total of over $30m in cash.
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