NIA Charges Eight More in Narco-Terror Case Linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a supplementary chargesheet against eight more individuals in a major narco-terror case. The investigation concerns the 2020 smuggling of 500 kg of heroin from Pakistan to Gujarat, with proceeds allegedly used to finance the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group. The NIA described a transnational conspiracy masterminded by operatives in Italy, Australia, and India, involving multiple countries and the use of hawala channels to fund terrorism. A total of 26 people have now been arrested.
Unpacked:
The operation was allegedly masterminded by Simranjit Singh Sandhu (Italy), Tanveer Bedi (Australia), and Ankush Kapoor (India). Sandhu organized drug transit and processing, Bedi handled international hawala transfers to fund LeT, and Kapoor managed on-ground operations in Punjab. Tariq, a Pakistani national, coordinated sea route smuggling.
The heroin was smuggled via the sea route from Pakistan to Gujarat. The conspiracy involved operatives coordinating across several countries, with drugs entering India’s western coast before being distributed to other states like Punjab, Delhi, and Chandigarh.
Hawala is an informal money transfer system that operates outside traditional banking channels. In this case, proceeds from the heroin smuggling were moved internationally through hawala channels to finance Lashkar-e-Taiba's terrorist activities, making the funds harder to trace.
So far, 26 people have been arrested and eight remain at large. The NIA has filed eight supplementary chargesheets, and the investigation is ongoing, spanning multiple states and countries to identify and apprehend remaining suspects.