The case pertains to the recovery and seizure of 102.784 kg of heroin, valued at approximately Rs 700 crore, in April 2022. (Getty Images)
Amritpal Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran district in Punjab, is the third person to be arrested in the case. According to the NIA, investigations have revealed him to be the handler of the cash and launderer of drug proceeds through banking and hawala channels
The National Investigation Agency on Friday arrested a key accused who was absconding in connection with the April 2022 seizure of 102 kg of heroin at the Attari border from Afghanistan via the India-Pakistan border.
The accused, Amritpal Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran district in Punjab, is the third person to be arrested in the case. According to an NIA press release, investigations have revealed him to be the handler of the cash and launderer of drug proceeds through banking and hawala channels.
The case pertains to the recovery and seizure of 102.784 kg of heroin, valued at approximately Rs 700 crore. The seizures were made in two instalments, April 24 and 26, 2022 by the Indian Customs when the drugs arrived in the country from Afghanistan via Attari, Amritsar. The drugs had been concealed in a consignment of licorice roots (mulethi).
“Amritpal Singh was detained by immigration officers on December 12, 2023, while trying to flee to Dubai from the Amritsar International Airport… Amritpal’s role in the conspiracy relating to the international drug nexus came to light following the examination of associates of the various persons accused in the case, and also from several incriminating transactions done by Amritpal Singh in the bank accounts of the other accused,” the NIA statement said.
“NIA investigations have revealed Amritpal Singh to have been involved in the larger conspiracy hatched by a global drug cartel. As part of the drug network, he was the conduit for circulation of drug money to various distributors in India as well as the main accused settled abroad. Amritpal Singh used his travel agency and money transfer business to transfer the proceeds of drugs, as per the investigations,” it added.
The NIA had on October 22, 2023 conducted searches at Amritpal’s residential and official premises, leading to the recovery of cash amounting to Rs 1,34,12,000 as alleged proceeds of narcotics.
Investigations by the NIA, after it took over the case on the directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), have so far revealed that the drug consignment in question was sent to India by Afghanistan based co-accused Nazir Ahmed Qani, a resident of Mazar-e-Sharif, on the directions of Shahid Ahmed. The same was supposed to be delivered to accused Razi Haider Zaidi in India for distribution in various parts of the country.
The NIA had exactly a year ago on December 16, 2022 filed a chargesheet against four accused — Shahid Ahmed @ Qazi Abdul Wadood, Nazir Ahmed Qani, Razi Haider Zaidi and Vipin Mittal — in the case. While Mittal and Zaidi, both residents of Delhi, were arrested in August 2022, Shahid and Nazir, who are based out of India, have been declared absconding in the case.
Source: News18