A major inter-state hawala racket linked to drug cartels has been busted in Goa, with the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TGANB) seizing ₹50 lakh in cash hidden inside a washing machine in an apartment. This discovery followed a month-long surveillance operation conducted by TGANB, with the assistance of the Goa Police, highlighting the intricate methods used by drug syndicates to launder money.
The operation led to the arrest of Uttam Singh, a hawala operator who owns a mobile shop in Mapusa, Goa. TGANB officials allege that Singh laundered ₹2.10 crore of drug proceeds in just one week. The money was reportedly received from various individuals, including foreign nationals, and was being routed to Mumbai before being ultimately transferred to Nigeria. According to TGANB Director Sandeep Shandilya, the "hard cash earned through drug sales was being handed over to Uttam Singh at his mobile shop. He would then send the money to Mumbai, and from there, it was transferred to Nigeria."
Officials stated that the ₹50 lakh seized from the apartment represented a two-day collection and was about to be moved abroad. Shandilya noted that "Had we delayed by an hour, the cash would have left the country," emphasizing the urgency and precision of the operation. The bureau tracked 58 hawala transactions between May 26 and June 1, during which ₹2.10 crore was paid to Singh, revealing the scale of the money laundering operation.
The unearthing of this hawala network began with an investigation into Emmanuel Bediako, also known as Maxwell, a Nigerian national recently arrested by the bureau. Police suspect that Singh is one of several hawala operators collaborating with drug syndicates to transfer proceeds to cartel leaders based overseas.
As part of the broader crackdown, four Nigerian nationals have been arrested in Goa in the past month. Additionally, drugs worth ₹1.64 crore, including ecstasy and cocaine, have been seized, indicating the extent of the drug trafficking activities in the region.
Further investigation revealed the kingpin used WhatsApp to send photos of ₹5, ₹10, and ₹20 notes. Couriers presented the matching notes to claim cash. A total of 150 bank transactions to Nigerian accounts were uncovered, involving his boss, brother-in-law, and wife, amounting to over 10 crore Nigerian naira in one year, all marked as commission. TGANB has concrete proof of at least 50 Nigerian nationals operating out of Goa. From May 26 to June 3, 2025 alone, 58 out-payments totalling ₹2.1 crore were tracked, with one transaction reaching up to ₹30 lakh. The hawala operation was run by Uttam Singh, Raju Singh, and Mahender Prajapathy alias Bobi.
The TGANB's efforts highlight the ongoing battle against drug trafficking and money laundering, exposing the sophisticated networks used by cartels to move illicit funds across borders. The use of hawala networks and methods such as hiding cash in washing machines demonstrates the challenges faced by law enforcement in combating these crimes.
