Dawood Ibrahim has 50 prime properties in 10 countries

New Delhi, Aug 18: The Enforcement Directorate has its task cut out and will need to focus on ten different countries if the wealth and assets of Dawood Ibrahim have to be stifled. While the focus is on London today where Dawood's aide the late Iqbal Mirchi had laundered the gang's wealth, the ED would be sending teams to other countries too in connection with the probe.

While the investments in London by the D gang is the highest, it has been found that he has invested heavily in the United Arab Emirates followed by Spain.

Dawood's global empire

An official with the Enforcement Directorate informed OneIndia that they would be commencing this extensive probe in the United Kingdom. We have asked for details to be shared and even written to officials in the United Kingdom regarding the assets of Dawood Ibrahim.

In the UK, it was Iqbal Mirchi (died in 2013) who had laundered away the wealth of the D Gang. A team of the Enforcement Directorate would also visit the United Kingdom to gather more details.

There is almost Rs 3,000 crore worth of assets world wide which the D gang owns and attempts are being made to attach the same with the help of the UK authorities, the ED official pointed out.

Going beyond UK

The ED officials are also trying to gather more information on the properties owned by the D Gang in several other nations. He has investments in Morocco, Spain, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Thailand, Cyprus, Turkey, India, Pakistan and the United Kingdom.

The worth of these properties as per a preliminary probe indicates is worth over Rs 3,000 crore. In all the D gang owns 50 properties in ten different countries.

All the properties have been purchased in benami names. So far the most concrete link that has been established between the D gang and the properties is through Iqbal Mirchi.

The investments made by Mirchi is highest in Mumbai and the United Kingdom. He had laundered away all the D gang's money in properties in the UK and Mumbai. The ED has managed to establish that Mirchi and his aides had invested in at least 6 properties in Mumbai.

The probe in India is primarily focused in Mumbai as the D gang has a majority of its assets in this city. Details of the properties and the transactions are being gathered.

Some of the transactions made through the banks are also under the scanner and the ED has sought the assistance of the Reserve Bank of India for the same.

There are around 20 different bank accounts under the scanner and transactions carried out by 30 firms to help the D network is also being analysed by the ED.

Dossiers a formality

Intelligence Bureau officials say that hitting Dawood's finances is the best way forward. He thrives on his finances and his importance in Pakistan is measured on the money he has. Pakistan has been given several dossiers and each and every time the addresses are mentioned.

This is a formality to tell Pakistan that India is aware of his whereabouts. We however do not expect Pakistan to act on it, the IB official also notes.

The recent pact signed with the UAE to combat terrorism would also focus on curbing the flow of finances and the activities of the D Gang will come under the scanner. He has large investments in Dubai and this enhanced cooperation with the UAE will help trace and block the finances, the officer from the Intelligence Bureau notes.

OneIndia News