ED freezes U.S. helicopter in Chennai warehouse
The Hindu
Follows request from U.S. authorities over craft imported from Thailand
The Enforcement Directorate has frozen a BELL-214 Helicopter that was dismantled and stored at a warehouse in Chennai. The action follows a request made by the U.S. Department of Justice and in accordance with the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with that country.
The Enforcement Directorate said the helicopter was imported by Hameed Ibrahim and Abdulla of M/s Marilog Avion Services Co. Ltd., Bangkok from AAR Corporation, United States and shipped to India through Thailand in 2019. It was dismantled and stored on the premises of J. Matadee Free Trade Warehouse Zone in Chennai. The helicopter was frozen under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, on October 23, the agency said in a statement.
Sources in the intelligence agencies said a logistics service provider involved in Customs clearances was examined by a central agency in Chennai a few days ago in connection with an input relating to shipment of helicopter components. State law-enforcing agencies said they had no formal communication about the case. However, it is not clear whether the Enforcement Directorate freezing the BELL-214 helicopter pertains to the same investigation.