NIA attaches Amritsar properties in 500-kg heroin smuggling linked to narco-terror case

New Delhi, Aug 14 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday attached two immovable properties in Amritsar, Punjab, belonging to accused Anwar Masih in connection with the 500-kg heroin smuggling case linked to a transnational narco-terror conspiracy.

The attached properties, bearing Plot Nos. 128 and 129 in Phase-I of Akash Vihar, Sultanwind, Amritsar, are registered in the name of Masih. The action was taken under Section 25(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.

The case, registered as RC-26/2020/NIA/DLI and popularly known as the Salaya drug seizure case, pertains to the smuggling of 500 kg of heroin from Pakistan into India through a maritime route.

According to the NIA, investigations have revealed Masih’s involvement in a transnational network operating across several countries, including Italy, Australia, the UAE, Thailand, Iran and Pakistan. The network was allegedly engaged in the smuggling and distribution of narcotics and in routing the proceeds of the illegal trade to finance terrorist activities linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

The agency stated that its probe established that the attached properties were linked to proceeds connected with terrorism, leading to their attachment under the provisions of the anti-terror law.

The attachment proceedings were carried out on August 13 in the presence of independent witnesses and with the assistance of revenue authorities. The attachment order was formally served, read out, and affixed at the properties. An Attachment Memorandum, along with a Panchanama, was also prepared as part of the process.

The NIA said that investigations in the case are still underway. So far, 26 accused persons have been arrested in connection with the conspiracy.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, the NIA on August 12 had arrested an accused in connection with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack on a residential house in Manipur’s Bishnupur district. The incident took place on April 7 this year at Tronglaobi Awang Leikai in Moirang, under Bishnupur district. The attack claimed the lives of two minor children and left another person injured.

According to Manipur Police, a five-year-old boy and his six-month-old sister were killed, while their mother sustained serious injuries when suspected Kuki militants allegedly hurled a powerful bomb at their residence in Tronglaobi village as the family was asleep.

–IANS

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