New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has identified eight key priority areas for intensified action, including cyber fraud, misuse of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), trade-based money laundering and illegal online gambling, signalling a shift towards coordinated, intelligence-driven financial investigations.
The decision was taken at the agency’s 34th quarterly conference of zonal heads held in Guwahati between February 19 and 21, where officials were directed to step up efforts to trace proceeds of crime, particularly assets parked in overseas jurisdictions such as Dubai and Singapore.
Cyber Fraud and Cross-Border Financial Trails
According to the agency, cyber fraud — including digital-arrest scams and organised cross-border syndicates — has emerged as a major concern. Zonal units have been tasked with identifying the financial trails behind such operations, dismantling mule account networks and mapping offshore linkages used to launder illicit gains.
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Scrutiny of Insolvency Processes and Trade Channels
The ED also flagged potential misuse of the IBC framework, pointing to suspected collusion among corporate debtors, resolution professionals and members of committees of creditors. Officials were asked to scrutinise resolution processes where there are indications of asset undervaluation, fraudulent diversion of funds or manipulation of insolvency proceedings.
Trade-based money laundering was highlighted as another critical threat, with investigators told to monitor complex import-export transactions used to disguise illegal fund flows. Professional laundering channels operating under the cover of legitimate trade are under particular watch.
Betting Networks, Drug Finance and Market Manipulation
Illegal online betting and gaming platforms have been placed high on the enforcement agenda. The agency plans to target not just the platforms but also their financial ecosystems, including payment gateways, shell entities, mule accounts and offshore operators facilitating fund transfers.
Drug trafficking networks and their hawala linkages will also face tighter financial scrutiny. Officials were instructed to track the movement of narcotics proceeds through layered transactions and identify assets acquired using laundered money.
The ED further flagged share market manipulation and foreign funding channels that could be used for unlawful influence operations or destabilising activities. Strengthening data integrity, consolidating intelligence inputs and enhancing inter-agency coordination were identified as key operational priorities.
Expanding International Cooperation and Intelligence Tools
To bolster international cooperation, the agency will increase the use of mechanisms such as Interpol channels through the Bharatpol portal, financial intelligence sharing under the Egmont framework and asset-tracing networks including ARIN-AP and the GlobE Network.
During the conference, zonal offices presented case studies and outlined efforts to expand the use of intelligence platforms such as NATGRID and FINNET. Officials also emphasised the need to diversify case typologies in response to emerging financial crime patterns.
However, several operational challenges were flagged. These include delays in prosecution sanctions, limited manpower, logistical constraints in remote regions, lack of digitised land records, pendency in committal of cases and valuation issues related to volatile digital assets. Instances of non-cooperation by police authorities in some States were also cited as impediments to timely investigations.
The agency reiterated its target of filing 500 prosecution complaints in the current financial year. A separate review of legacy cases under the erstwhile Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) and the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) was conducted, with a renewed commitment to complete adjudication of pending FERA matters by March 31, 2026.
The conference concluded with a call for stronger institutional capacity, faster asset tracing and proactive international engagement, as financial crimes become increasingly technology-driven and transnational in nature.
