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New Delhi, 7 October (IANS) National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charged one and eight accused persons in the 2020 Transnational Narco-Terror Network case, including the smuggling of drugs from Pakistan through a sea route in India through Gujarat, the agency said on Tuesday.
The purpose of drugs was aimed at financing the Lashkar-e-Tabi (late) terrorist organization.
In the eight supplementary charge sheet filed in the Sala Drugs Case RC -26/2020/NIA/DLI, the NIA has established a NICO -Attikwist conspiracy, which is the mastermind by Italy -based Simranjit Singh Sandhu, Australia -based Tanveer Bedi and India -based Ankush Kapoor.
The agency said in its press note, “The charge sheet has been filed on the basis of comprehensive digital, technical and documentary evidence under various provisions of NDPS Act and UA (P) Act before NIA Special Court, Ahmedabad.”
Apart from Simranjit Singh, Tanveer Singh Bedi and Ankush Kapoor, the other accused in the charge sheet are Pakistani National Tariq alias Bhajan, Gagandep Singh Arora and three other accused men – Tamanna Gupta, Sukhbir Singh Khush and Anwar Masih.
The case is related to smuggling 500 kg of heroin from Pakistan in Gujarat through sea route and further transport in Punjab.
Income from sale of drugs was used to fund LET activities, accused terrorist organization.
“The NIA investigation has revealed that the Narco-Attankist conspiracy was spread in many Indian states, including Gujarat, Delhi, Punjab and Chandigarh, which had a footprint spread in many countries including Italy, Australia, UAE, Pakistan, Iran and Thailand,” said the NIA.
According to the investigation, Ankush Kapoor was a prominent mastermind in India and was responsible for managing the on-ground activities of Narco-Atak Syndicate in Punjab.
He said, “He coordinated the logistics, storage and local distribution of the contrast, and actively provided funds to the accused persons located in India and abroad. Simsranjit Narco was the mastermind of the terror syndicate and was responsible for organizing illegal transport, storage, illegal drug processing and terraler funding.”
Investigation revealed that Tariq alias Bhaijaan played an important role in coordinating heroin smuggling through a sea route from Pakistan to India, overseen its transport, facilitated its distribution in Punjab, and made an income for financing the operative.
Australia-based wanted accused Tanveer Bedi had actively involved in both smuggling and transfer of drug income through international hawala channels to fund late terror activities in India.
“Other accused, Tamanna, Sukhbir Singh and Anwar Masih have been accused of deliberate roles in the terrorist funding conspiracy,” said this.
In addition, a Gagandip Singh Arora, a hawala operator who is currently absconding, has been charged in large quantities of money laundering and terrorist operators for the facility of illegal fund transfer.
ATS Gujarat filed the original charge sheet, and the NIA had filed the first seven supplementary charge sheet.
In particular, a total of 26 accused in the case have been arrested so far, while eight accused are absconding.
The NIA has continued its investigation to track the syndicate as part of the efforts to track the absconding and to end the nexus between drug trafficking and terrorism.
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SAS/Dan