The National Investigation Agency on Wednesday arrested alleged “narco-terrorist” Iqbal Singh, also known as Shera, after extraditing him from Portugal through sustained diplomatic and legal efforts. He was brought to Delhi and taken into NIA custody.
According to the agency, Shera was a major conspirator in a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terror-financing case and had been absconding in Portugal since 2020. A non-bailable warrant was issued against him in October 2020, followed by an Interpol Red Notice in June 2021.
The NIA said Shera, a resident of Amritsar, played a central role in running a narco-terror network that smuggled heroin from Pakistan into Punjab. “A native of Amritsar in Punjab, Shera had masterminded the conspiracy involving the smuggling of narcotics from Pakistan into the border State. He had coordinated and overseen the trafficking and distribution of the smuggled drugs and channelised the proceeds through ‘hawala’ networks to Pakistan and Kashmir-based operatives of HM to facilitate terror activities,” it said.
The case began with Punjab Police action against alleged HM overground worker Hilal Ahmed Shergojri, during which ₹29 lakh was seized, followed by another ₹32 lakh recovered from Punjab-based associates.
