The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday attached 15 properties in Dubai, including a Midwest Hotel apartment and 14 other residential and commercial assets, belonging to the family members of notorious drug baron and aide of global terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, Iqbal Mirchi.

Earlier, the ED had issued two attachment orders in December, 2019 attaching properties to the tune of Rs 573 crore. Now the total attachment in this case has reached to Rs 776 crore.

The ED had registered a money laundering case against Iqbal Memon, alias Mirchi, and others on September 26, 2019, under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

In this case, five accused including Kapil Wadhawan, Dheeraj Wadhawan & Humayun Merchant were arrested.

A prosecution complaint (chargesheet in police parlance) was filed on December 9 last year before the Special PMLA Court that has taken cognisance of the chargesheet.

Open ended Non-Bailable Warrants have been issued by the designated court against Asif Memon, Junaid Memon (both sons of Iqbal Mirchi) and Hajra Memon (wife of Iqbal Memon).

Further investigation is in progress, the agency added.

Mirchi died on August 14, 2013, and was considered the right-hand man of Dawood Ibrahim. Mirchi was often called the drug baron for his thriving narcotics business across Asia, Africa and Europe, according to reports.

Memon’s family originally owned shops selling chillies and spices that gave him the nickname ‘Mirchi’.

Mirchi’s fortunes soared after he began smuggling in banned meth tablets, heroin and Mandrax. He also owned a club The Fisherman’s Wharf at Worli seafront in Mumbai which was a hotbed for narcotics.

Mirchi left India in late 80s, first to Dubai and later to London.