NAHAN: In a massive joint operation against organized drug syndicates, the Sirmaur Police and the Special Task Force (STF) have seized illegal properties and assets worth approximately ₹4.41 crore belonging to an interstate drug trafficker, Mahmood Ali, and his associates.
A spokesperson for the Police Department confirmed the crackdown on Wednesday, stating that the law enforcement agencies successfully identified and attached 12 small vehicles, one heavy truck, and three residential houses acquired through illicit drug money. The case documentation regarding the seized assets has been formally forwarded to the competent authority in New Delhi to initiate further legal forfeiture proceedings under the NDPS Act.
Discrepancy Between Income and Assets
The police noted that multiple FIRs under the NDPS Act have already been registered against Mahmood Ali and his accomplices in Himachal Pradesh and neighboring states. The kingpin is currently detained at the Modern Central Jail in Nahan under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act.
A detailed financial investigation conducted by the STF uncovered that Mahmood Ali and his family amassed substantial illicit wealth by running a network that trafficked opium, poppy husk, and other narcotics across state borders.
The financial probe brought a stark discrepancy to light: while the accused and his associates had a documented legitimate income of just ₹72,58,198 over the past six years, the total value of the physical assets they acquired during the same period exceeded ₹4.41 crore.
Shell Companies and Money Laundering
According to officials, the drug syndicate operated sophisticated money-laundering channels to conceal their illegal activities. Investigations revealed that the syndicate set up and utilized shell companies—specifically “M/s Bulbul Transport Company” and “M/s Bulbul Fruit Supplier”—to route and launder the massive proceeds generated from the narcotics trade.
The state police have appealed to the public to act as eyes and ears for law enforcement. Citizens can contact the emergency helpline at 112 or approach their nearest police station with any information regarding drug peddling. Authorities assured that the identity of the informant will be kept strictly confidential.
This major seizure is a direct result of the continuous and effective campaign spearheaded by the STF and district police under the ‘Chitta-free Himachal’ initiative. The state-wide mass movement was launched by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on November 15, 2025, to root out the ‘Chitta’ (heroin/synthetic drugs) menace from the state.
