The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday carried out its first-ever search and seizure operations in Nagaland under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), in connection with an investigation involving Lima Imsong and others, officials said.
According to the officials, the agency’s Dimapur Sub Zone covered seven premises as part of the operation: two in Dimapur, two in Guwahati, and three in Chennai. This marks a significant step by the ED in expanding financial enforcement activities across the Northeast.
Initial findings from the investigation suggest that Imsong Global Suppliers Co., a sole proprietorship owned by Lima Imsong, allegedly received substantial amounts of foreign inward remittances under the guise of exporting human hair. Investigators described this business activity as “uncommon and commercially unviable” for a firm based in Dimapur.
The ED stated that despite the passage of considerable time, the firm failed to submit essential export documentation, including shipping bills and export invoices, to the authorised dealer bank within the prescribed time frame. This non-compliance constitutes violations under FEMA and related Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines, officials said.
According to the agency, the foreign remittances received in the bank account of Imsong Global Suppliers Co. were diverted to an entity named Inchem India Pvt. Ltd. and to the personal accounts of the proprietor, Shri Lima Imsong, and his family members.
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Investigators said Inchem India Pvt. Ltd., though registered as a separate company, was actually owned and controlled by Imsong.
The company had been dormant for several years and became active only after foreign remittances began flowing into Imsong’s accounts. Officials added that the firm had declared losses during the relevant period and appeared to be a paper entity.
The ED further noted that the funds received by Inchem India were allegedly routed to multiple suspicious entities based in Chennai, which are purportedly involved in the trading of human hair. These entities are also under investigation.
Officials said the searches were conducted as part of the agency’s efforts to detect violations of FEMA and ensure compliance with foreign exchange laws. The ED’s move marks its first FEMA enforcement action in Nagaland, signalling a significant step in strengthening financial oversight in the region.
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