LUCKNOW: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Lucknow Zonal Office, on Thursday conducted simultaneous search operations at 13 premises across West Bengal, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and other locations as part of an ongoing money laundering investigation into an alleged terror funding and illegal infiltration network.The searches were carried out on July 16, 2026, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with ECIR No. ECIR/LKZO/14/2024.According to the Enforcement Directorate, the money laundering case stems from a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) against an alleged organised syndicate accused of facilitating the illegal infiltration of Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals into India.The ATS investigation alleges that the network was involved in arranging forged Indian identity documents for the infiltrators and assisting them in settling and rehabilitating in different parts of the country, thereby enabling their continued illegal stay.The ED said its investigation under the PMLA, along with the probe into the predicate offence, has uncovered what it described as a deep-rooted financial network involving certain charitable trusts and other entities.These organisations are suspected of receiving substantial foreign contributions and allegedly diverting the funds through a complex web of multiple bank accounts, mule accounts and layered financial transactions to facilitate illegal activities.Investigators have also found indications of the alleged use of cash withdrawals and numerous small-value fund transfers to suspected beneficiaries, a pattern that is being examined as part of the suspected money laundering mechanism.The searches were aimed at gathering evidence relating to the movement of funds, the role of the entities under investigation and the alleged financial infrastructure supporting the infiltration network.The Enforcement Directorate said the investigation is continuing and further details are expected to emerge as scrutiny of the seized material progresses.
