New Delhi, Feb 4 (NationPress) The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) Jalandhar Zonal Office has provisionally attached properties valued at around Rs 2.19 crore as part of an ongoing money laundering investigation linked to the illicit distribution of psychotropic substances, mainly Tramadol-based tablets, according to an agency statement.

This attachment, carried out on Monday under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, includes four immovable properties, which consist of both commercial and residential plots worth Rs 2.18 crore owned by entities such as M/s MP Traders, M/s Soul Healthcare Pvt Ltd, Akhil Jai Singh of M/s Aster Pharma, and Ankit Kumar of M/s Kanix Pharma.

Furthermore, a movable asset in the form of a bank deposit totaling Rs 1.2 lakh belonging to Santosh Tiwari was also attached.

The investigation stems from an FIR lodged by the Punjab Police under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, triggered by the recovery of Tramadol-based tablets and cash related to drug transactions from peddlers.

The ED's probe has revealed a complex interstate trafficking network that diverted substantial amounts of psychotropic tablets from pharmaceutical manufacturers to the black market, bypassing proper documentation, bills, or stock registers.

Middlemen, including wholesalers and distributors like M/s Shree Shyam Medical Agency, acquired bulk supplies from manufacturers and illegally sold them through peddlers at inflated prices.

Distributors utilized courier services to transport the tablets, collected cash payments for the proceeds of crime, and deposited amounts exceeding legitimate invoice values into personal bank accounts to launder the illicit funds.

Earlier searches conducted on June 17, 2025, under PMLA provisions uncovered incriminating records that established the financial trail and modus operandi.

The agency apprehended Abhishek Kumar of M/s Shree Shyam Medical Agency on December 9, 2025, and he currently remains in judicial custody.

This investigation has uncovered how the network—from manufacturers to distributors and retailers—enabled the misuse and addiction of controlled psychotropic substances such as Tramadol and Alprazolam, posing a threat to public health and safety. Similar cases have prompted ED actions against pharmaceutical entities involved in diverting these drugs, frequently leading to black market sales that generate significant illicit revenues. Further investigations are underway to identify additional beneficiaries, outline the complete supply chain, and recognize more properties linked to these criminal activities.

The property attachments aim to prevent the dissipation of proceeds from crime and act as a deterrent against the illegal trade of regulated pharmaceuticals.