NIA chargesheets eight more accused in 2020 narco-terror case

New Delhi, Oct 7: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday said that it has charge sheeted eight more accused in the 2020 transnational narco-terror network case involving smuggling of drugs from Pakistan through sea route into India via Gujarat.
In a statement, a NIA spokesman said, “The drugs were aimed at financing the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit.”
He said, “In the 8th supplementary chargesheet filed in the Salaya drugs case RC-26/2020/NIA/DLI, NIA has conclusively established the narco-terror conspiracy, masterminded by Italy-based Simranjit Singh Sandhu, Australia based Tanveer Bedi and India-based Ankush Kapoor. The chargesheet has been filed under various provisions of NDPS Act and UA (P) Act before the NIA Special Court, Ahmedabad, based on extensive digital, technical, and documentary evidences.”
“Besides Simranjit Singh, Australia-based Tanveer Singh Bedi and Ankush Kapoor, other accused persons named in the chargesheet are Pakistani national Tariq @ Bhaijaan, Gagandeep Singh Arora and three other accused persons- Tamanna Gupta, Sukhbir Singh @ Happy and Anwar Masih,” the spokesman said, adding, “ The case relates to smuggling of 500 kilograms of heroin from Pakistan into Gujarat via the sea route and further transportation to Punjab. The proceeds from the sale of the drugs were used to fund the activities of LeT, the proscribed terrorist organization.”
“NIA’s investigations have revealed that the narco-terror conspiracy was spread across many Indian states, including Gujarat, Delhi, Punjab and Chandigarh, with a footprint spanning several countries including Italy, Australia, UAE, Pakistan, Iran and Thailand,” he said.
“As per the investigations, Ankush Kapoor was a key mastermind in India and responsible for managing the on-ground activities of the narco-terror syndicate in Punjab. He coordinated logistics, storage and local distribution of the contraband, and actively facilitated funding to accused persons based both in India and abroad. Simranjit was the mastermind of the narco terror syndicate and responsible for organizing the illegal transportation, storage, processing of the illegal drug’s and the terror funding,” the spokesman added.
“The investigations further revealed that Tariq @ Bhaijaan played a pivotal role in coordinating the smuggling of heroin through sea route from Pakistan to India, overseeing its transportation, facilitating its distribution in Punjab, and channelising the proceeds for financing LeT operatives.
Tanveer Bedi, the Australia based wanted accused was actively involved in both the smuggling and transfer of drug proceeds through international hawala channels to fund LeT’s terror activities in India. The other accused Tamanna, Sukhbir Singh and Anwar Masih have been charged for their deliberate roles in the terror funding conspiracy. Further, one Gagandeep Singh Arora, a hawala operator who is currently absconding, has been chargesheeted for facilitating money laundering of huge amounts and illegal fund transfers to terror operatives,” he said.
“The ATS Gujarat had filed the original chargesheet and NIA had filed seven supplementary chargesheets earlier. A total of 26 accused have been arrested in the case so far while eight accused persons are absconding. NIA is continuing with its investigation to track the absconders and destroy the syndicate as part of its efforts to eliminate the nexus between narcotics trafficking and terrorism,” the spokesman added. (KNO)