New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday arrested a key accused, who had been absconding since June 2020, in a narco-terror nexus case in Jammu and Kashmir linked to Pakistan-based terror groups Lashkar-e -Taiba and Hizbul. Mujahideen.
Syed Saleem Jahangir Andrabi alias Saleem Andrabi, a resident of Kupwara district, was carrying a reward for his arrest, the NIA said in a statement.
After his arrest, Andrabi was subsequently charged under various sections of the NDPS Act, IPC and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, he said.
His arrest marks a major success in the NIA's efforts to destroy the narco-terror nexus and dismantle the ecosystem created in India by terrorist organizations based across the border, the statement said.
The NIA took over the investigation of the case on June 16, 2020 from the local police.
During the investigation, the agency found that Andrabi was part of a deep-rooted conspiracy to procure and sell narcotics and generate funds in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India.
The conspiracy was hatched by drug traffickers in close association with operatives of banned terrorist groups, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen, based across the border in Pakistan.
Funds generated through narcotics trafficking were injected into Jammu and Kashmir by a network of overland workers (OGWs) to promote terrorist violence, NIA investigations revealed.
The case was originally registered at Handwara police station following the arrest of Abdul Momin Peer, after police intercepted his Hyundai Creta vehicle and seized Rs 20,01,000 in cash and two kilograms of heroin.
During interrogation, Peer had led the police to recover another 15 kg of heroin and Rs 1.15 million in cash.
The NIA has so far charged a total of 15 accused, through various charge sheets filed between December 2020 and February 2023, in the case, in which investigations are continuing, the statement said.
Syed Saleem Jahangir Andrabi alias Saleem Andrabi, a resident of Kupwara district, was carrying a reward for his arrest, the NIA said in a statement.
After his arrest, Andrabi was subsequently charged under various sections of the NDPS Act, IPC and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, he said.
His arrest marks a major success in the NIA's efforts to destroy the narco-terror nexus and dismantle the ecosystem created in India by terrorist organizations based across the border, the statement said.
The NIA took over the investigation of the case on June 16, 2020 from the local police.
During the investigation, the agency found that Andrabi was part of a deep-rooted conspiracy to procure and sell narcotics and generate funds in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India.
The conspiracy was hatched by drug traffickers in close association with operatives of banned terrorist groups, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen, based across the border in Pakistan.
Funds generated through narcotics trafficking were injected into Jammu and Kashmir by a network of overland workers (OGWs) to promote terrorist violence, NIA investigations revealed.
The case was originally registered at Handwara police station following the arrest of Abdul Momin Peer, after police intercepted his Hyundai Creta vehicle and seized Rs 20,01,000 in cash and two kilograms of heroin.
During interrogation, Peer had led the police to recover another 15 kg of heroin and Rs 1.15 million in cash.
The NIA has so far charged a total of 15 accused, through various charge sheets filed between December 2020 and February 2023, in the case, in which investigations are continuing, the statement said.
