ED freezes 1,424 bank accounts in Mizoram, Manipur drug-money hawala probe
The ED said it froze 1,424 bank accounts, many allegedly rented out for Rs 500 per lakh, and arrested six accused in a drug-money hawala probe in Mizoram and Manipur.
Key points
- The ED said it froze 1,424 bank accounts and arrested six accused in Mizoram and Manipur on 23 October 2026 in three drug-money cases.
- According to the ED, account holders rented out their accounts for Rs 500 per lakh, and assets secured in the cases now exceed Rs 26 crore.
- These are ED allegations; the case shows that lending your bank account to others for a fee can get it frozen in an investigation.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) said it froze 1,424 bank accounts in Mizoram and Manipur on 23 October 2026, many of them, according to the agency, rented out by their holders to move money from cross-border drug trafficking. The ED said it also arrested six accused and provisionally attached a Rs 17.82 crore commercial building, taking the assets it has secured in these cases to over Rs 26 crore.
What Happened
The ED's Aizawl and Imphal offices said they searched premises in Aizawl, Champhai and Lawngtlai in Mizoram and Churachandpur in Manipur, in coordination with the Narcotics Control Bureau and the Mizoram Police. The three money-laundering cases arise from seizures of heroin, brown sugar and methamphetamine tablets that, according to the ED, were trafficked from Myanmar.
The ED alleges that drug sale proceeds collected in Manipur were paid into the banking system through Mini-ATM and customer service point counters in Churachandpur, with one counter making 2,947 transfers worth Rs 175.03 crore between 2024 and June 2026. According to the ED, pharmacies, general stores and individuals in Mizoram rented out their accounts for Rs 500 per lakh and passed the money on within days through RTGS, NEFT and IMPS, with no real trade behind it. The ED said account holders admitted renting their accounts.
The accounts were frozen under Section 17(1A) of the PMLA. The ED said it is also examining the role of bank officials and counter operators.
These are allegations, not findings of guilt; the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court, and due process continues.
What It Means
The release shows what can happen to people who lend their bank accounts to others for a commission: the ED says such "mule" and beneficiary accounts were among those frozen. An account used to pass on someone else's money can be frozen during an investigation, cutting the holder off from their own savings.
Do not let anyone use your bank account, debit card or cheque book to receive or send money for a fee. If someone has offered you money to use your account, or you suspect your account is being misused, report it at https://cybercrime.gov.in or on helpline 1930. A provisional attachment must be confirmed by the PMLA Adjudicating Authority.
This report describes enforcement actions and allegations on the public record, attributed to the officials cited. An order, FIR or chargesheet is not a conviction; parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Named in this report, or spotted an error? Corrections and responses: editor@oquilia.com. We correct errors promptly and record responses from named parties.
Sources & Citations
- Enforcement Directorate press release — Enforcement Directorate