New Delhi, October 27 (UNI) The Enforcement Directorate’s Panaji Zonal Office on Monday filed a chargesheet against seven accused, including two foreign nationals from Tanzania and Zimbabwe, in an ongoing investigation into an international drug trafficking and money laundering case.
The accused in the case are Vedasto Audax – a Tanzanian national, Masoom Uikey, Chirag Dudhat, Tariro Brightmore Mangwana – a Zimbabwean national, Reshma Wadekar, Mangesh Wadekar and Nibu Vincent.
The investigation began based on an FIR registered by Goa Police’s Crime Branch regarding the smuggling of 4.325 kilograms of cocaine into India from Laos.
Earlier on August 19, the ED had conducted nationwide search operations across multiple states, including Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Goa, Haryana, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. These operations led to the seizure of digital evidence, incriminating documents and freezing of several bank accounts suspected to be linked to money laundering.
During the investigation, Mangwana was arrested for his central role in facilitating international narcotics trafficking and laundering illicit proceeds. He was found to have arranged travel and financed Indian nationals acting as drug couriers, receiving commissions from key accused Vedasto Audax.
The ED has also attached a property worth Rs. 45.15 lakh in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, belonging to Reshma Wadekar, who had carried 4.3 kg of cocaine to India from Vientiane in March 2025.
The financial investigation has revealed proceeds of crime amounting to Rs. 88.14 lakh linked to drug trafficking. The probe has uncovered connections to international rackets operating from the Golden Triangle, Middle East, Nepal and Bangladesh, demonstrating the global reach of the syndicate.
The investigation continues to identify additional beneficiaries, facilitators, and assets derived from illegal proceeds. The ED has also detected the use of shell entities and benami accounts for routing funds to disguise money earned through drug trafficking.
The agency reiterated its commitment to dismantle drug trafficking networks by targeting their financial infrastructure as part of the national objective under the ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan’ aimed at creating a drug-free India.
