The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday linked a house in Amritsar allegedly linked to a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant in a case of a transnational drug terror network with footprints spread across several countries.
An official statement said that the property, identified as House No. 33, Holy City, Holy Enclave Phase 1, Amritsar, has been annexed as ‘proceeds of terrorism’.
Read also | Pakistani government should crack down on Lashkar-e-Toiba and JeM: US lawmakers on Pahalgam attack anniversary
She added that the National Intelligence Agency team carried out the seizure operation after due legal procedures, in the presence of independent witnesses and with the assistance of local authorities.
Properties linked to main accused Ankush Kapoor
The investigation agency said in the statement that the said property was registered in the name of the father of the accused Ankush Kapoor – a key agent in India of the terrorist drug network spread in Italy, Australia, Iran, Thailand, UAE and Pakistan among other countries.
NIA investigations revealed Ankush’s links with a Dubai-based accused linked to the Pakistan-based banned terrorist organization – Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Read also | Khaja Mohiuddin, an aide who was acquitted of ISIS-related terrorism charges
Its role in drug trafficking and terrorist financing
The statement stated that Ankush, who was arrested last year, turned out to be a very important element in the conspiracy related to smuggling, transporting, storing and distributing narcotic substances, in addition to laundering the proceeds of terrorism for the accused in various countries.
She added that investigations also showed that proceeds from drug smuggling are used to finance and support terrorist activities in India through a complex and elaborate financial network.
The indictment and ongoing investigation
The anti-terrorism agency had earlier charged Ankush for his role in terror financing activities, criminal conspiracy and providing support to illegal and terrorist networks, in addition to offenses under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the statement said.
So far, charges have been brought against 26 defendants in the case, in which investigations are still ongoing.
“Today’s action was part of the NIA’s efforts to dismantle and destroy all financial and logistical infrastructure supporting terrorist activities on Indian soil,” he added.
