ED Files Chargesheet Against Seven In Rs 88-Lakh International Drug And Money Laundering Case

The Enforcement Directorate’s Panaji Zonal Office has filed a prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, against seven individuals: Tanzanian national Vedasto Audax, Zimbabwean national Tariro Brightmore Mangwana, and Indian citizens Masoom Uikey, Chirag Dudhat, Reshma Wadekar, Mangesh Wadekar, and Nibu Vincent, the agency announced on Saturday.

The complaint, lodged on 18 October 2025, forms part of an ongoing investigation into an international narcotics and money laundering racket linked to the smuggling of 4.325 kilograms of cocaine into India from Laos.

The case stems from an FIR registered by the Goa Police Crime Branch, which had initially exposed the network’s activities.

Earlier, on 19 August 2025, the ED carried out a series of search operations across Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Goa, Haryana, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh.

According to officials, these raids led to the recovery of digital evidence, incriminating documents, and the freezing of several bank accounts that suspects allegedly used to launder the proceeds of crime.

During the probe, Tariro Brightmore Mangwana was taken into custody on 22 August under Section 19 of the PMLA, for allegedly playing a central role in coordinating drug shipments and transferring illicit funds.

The agency said he arranged travel for Indian drug couriers and received commissions from the principal accused, Vedasto Audax.

Assets Worth Rs 45.15 Lakh Attached

In a related action, the ED issued a Provisional Attachment Order (PAO) on 18 October, seizing assets worth Rs 45.15 lakh, including a residential property in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, owned by Reshma Wadekar.

According to the agency, “Reshma Wadekar had carried 4.3 Kgs of Cocaine to India from Vientiane in March 2025 in one of her drug trafficking instances. The financial investigation done so far by ED has revealed generation of POC to the tune of Rs. 88.14 Lakh associated with the drug trafficking.”

The ED said its investigation has uncovered links between the accused and international drug syndicates operating out of the Golden Triangle, the Middle East, Nepal, and Bangladesh.

“Further investigation is ongoing to identify additional beneficiaries, facilitators, and assets derived from the POC. ED investigation has also revealed the use of shell entities and benami accounts for routing funds, thereby disguising the origin of the money earned through drug trafficking,” the ED further asserted.

Reiterating its stance under the government’s ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan’, the Enforcement Directorate said it remains committed to dismantling drug networks by targeting their financial operations and confiscating assets derived from illegal trade.

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