The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Rajasthan-based businessman Premprakash Dhankani in Bengaluru on money laundering charges linked to a massive methaqualone smuggling operation. The arrest comes after a tip-off from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).
The investigators busted a two-decade-long drug trafficking network allegedly led by businessman Premprakash Dhankani. The investigation revealed an illegal income of more than Rs. 118.76 crores. Dhankani is currently in judicial custody.
What is methaqualone?
Methaqualone, also known by the brand name Quaalude, is a drug that was once prescribed as a sleeping pill. It works by slowing down the central nervous system, which can make you feel drowsy and relaxed.
Methaqualone became popular in the 1960s and 1970s, but it was taken off the market in most countries in the 1980s because of its high risk of addiction and abuse. It can be dangerous because it can slow down your breathing too much, which can lead to death.