Mohammed Saleem, brother of former DMK member and drug lord Jaffer Sadiq, admitted to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that they engaged in drug smuggling under Sadiq’s direction. This admission follows Saleem’s arrest by the ED on 13 August 2024 regarding the high-profile drug smuggling and money laundering case.
Sadiq, previously associated with the DMK, is imprisoned in Puzhal Jail over charges related to drug trafficking and illegal money transfers. Mohammed Saleem, who was a member of the VCK, was taken into custody by the ED and is undergoing a seven-day interrogation concerning drug smuggling and money laundering operations.
Interrogation
During his interrogation, Saleem revealed that their primary operation involved smuggling ‘pseudoephedrine,’ a substance similar to health mix powder, to foreign markets. He explained that “Our primary operation was to smuggle ‘pseudoephedrine,’ a substance similar to health mix powder, to foreign countries. In 2015, we expanded our activities, and my brother Jaffer Sadiq joined the DMK to shield us from potential arrests. He also helped me join the VCK party. We took photographs with political leaders and sent them to drug cartels abroad to showcase our influence. This strategy boosted their confidence in us, allowing us to smuggle drugs to Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia, and other countries, all under my brother Jaffer Sadiq’s direction. Additionally, we were involved in illegal money transfers.”
The ED’s investigation revealed that Saleem and Sadiq played a crucial role in exporting and concealing pseudoephedrine among other narcotics. Saleem, involved in various companies and entities, used these platforms to launder illicit proceeds. He had accumulated over ₹8 crore in illegal cash deposits across several accounts.
Saleem employed money laundering tactics such as using financial intermediaries and fictitious loans to obscure the origins of this cash. Additionally, he channelled drug trafficking proceeds into real estate investments and purchased luxury items, including a Jaguar. His amassed wealth, in sharp contrast to his declared income, highlights the extent of his involvement in the criminal network.
The VCK supporter appeared before a local court on 13 August 2024, where Principal Sessions Judge S Alli remanded him to judicial custody until 27 August 2024. The ED has also requested 15 days of custody for Saleem. The judge has ordered a notice regarding the agency’s request and scheduled a further hearing for the next day.
Who Is Jaffer Sadiq?
Jaffer Sadiq, a producer of five Tamil films, was the leader of a cartel responsible for shipping Pseudoephedrine from India to Australia and New Zealand, as per the sources.
Sadiq was their Deputy Organiser for DMK’s Chennai West NRI Wing. He was permanently expelled from the party on 25 February 2024 for his involvement in the drug cartel.
The case came to light after authorities from New Zealand and Australia alerted Indian agencies about substantial pseudoephedrine smuggling, disguised as desiccated coconut powder, found in their countries. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) was probing the possibility of drug money to fund films. Additional information from the US Drug Enforcement Administration pointed to Delhi as the source of the consignment.
A combined operation from the NCB and the Special Cell of Delhi Police busted up the drug network. It resulted in the seizure of at least 50 kg of Pseudoephedrine in Delhi. They arrested four persons from Tamil Nadu in a Delhi warehouse.
Officials said the cartel operators dispatched 45 shipments with roughly 3,500 kg of pseudoephedrine over the past three years. They cost over ₹2,000 crore in the international market.
On 9 March 2024, NCB announced they arrested Sadiq, the mastermind behind the drug trafficking.
(With inputs from Dinamalar)
Subscribe to our Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram channels and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.