NIA brings back wanted Hizb-ul-Mujahideen operative accused of running a Pakistan-backed heroin and terror funding network.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday arrested wanted narco-terrorist Iqbal Singh alias Shera after securing his extradition from Portugal following prolonged diplomatic and legal proceedings.
Shera, accused of masterminding a major Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) terror financing operation, was brought to India after completion of the legal formalities and taken into custody by an NIA team at Delhi airport.
Officials described the extradition as a significant breakthrough in the agency’s ongoing crackdown on Pakistan-backed narco-terror and cross-border terror networks operating in India.
According to the NIA, Shera had been declared a wanted accused in the HM Narco-Terror Module case. A non-bailable warrant was issued against him in October 2020, followed by an Interpol notice in June 2021.
Investigators identified Shera as a key handler of an India-based narco-terror module involved in smuggling heroin from Pakistan into India and routing terror funds through hawala channels.
A resident of Punjab’s Amritsar district, Shera allegedly operated a large-scale heroin trafficking network and coordinated the circulation of narcotics across the border. The proceeds from the drug trade were reportedly funnelled to Pakistan and Kashmir-based Hizb-ul-Mujahideen operatives to finance terror activities.
Officials said he had built a Punjab-based network involved in heroin distribution, collection of drug money and transfer of funds to terror handlers. He was also allegedly in close contact with Pakistan-based HM operatives.
The case was initially registered by Punjab Police after the arrest of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen overground worker Hilal Ahmed Shergojri. During the operation, police recovered Rs 29 lakh believed to be drug proceeds from Hilal, who was reportedly associated with slain Hizb commander Riyaz Ahmed Naikoo.
Further investigation later led to the recovery of another Rs 32 lakh from members linked to the terror module in Punjab.
After taking over the case, the NIA intensified efforts to dismantle the network and pursued Shera’s extradition from Portugal.
The investigation is continuing.
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