The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has extradited an alleged narco-terrorist operative from Portugal and arrested him in Delhi in connection with a Pakistan-backed heroin smuggling and terror financing network linked to Hizbul Mujahideen.
The accused, identified as Iqbal Singh alias Shera, is a key conspirator and handler of an India-based narco-terrorism unit engaged in smuggling heroin from Pakistan.
The NIA said in a statement that Shera was detained at Delhi airport immediately after his arrival from Portugal, where he fled in 2020. “His extradition and successful arrest comes as a major shot in the arm for the NIA in its war against Pakistan-backed drugs and cross-border terrorism,” the agency said.
Shera, a native of Punjab’s Amritsar state, was allegedly the mastermind of a conspiracy to smuggle drugs from Pakistan to the border state.
“He coordinated and supervised the smuggling and distribution of smuggled drugs, and directed the proceeds through hawala networks to Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist elements based in Pakistan and Kashmir to facilitate terrorist activities,” the agency said.
A non-bailable order was issued against him in October 2020, after which an Interpol Red Notice was published in June 2021.
“To further the anti-terrorism and anti-narcotics conspiracy in India, Shera formed a terrorist gang and ran a Punjab-based network involved in smuggling large quantities of heroin, collecting sale proceeds, and transferring money to dealers and terrorist operatives. He maintained close ties with His Majesty’s agents stationed in Pakistan,” the NIA said.
The case was originally registered by the Punjab Police after the arrest of HM overground worker, Hilal Ahmad Shirjojri. The police have also recovered $29 lakh in alleged drug proceeds from Sherjojri – a close aide of deceased terrorist leader Riaz Ahmed Naikoo.
