NIA attaches Amritsar property in 500-kg heroin narco-terror case
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has attached two immovable properties in Amritsar belonging to an alleged drug peddler in connection with a 500-kg heroin smuggling case that involved a transnational narco-terror conspiracy, officials said on Friday, Aug 14.
The properties in Phase-I of Akash Vihar and Sultanwind in Amritsar are registered in the name of accused Anwar Masih, they said.
The case, popularly known as the Salaya drug seizure case, relates to the smuggling of 500 kg of heroin from Pakistan to India through a sea route.
According to the NIA, its investigation has revealed Masih's involvement in a transnational network extending across Italy, Australia, the UAE, Thailand, Iran and Pakistan. The network was engaged in the smuggling and distribution of narcotics and channelising the proceeds to finance terrorist activities linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit, according to a statement issued by the NIA.
The agency said the investigation had established the linkage of the attached properties with proceeds connected to terrorism, resulting in their attachment under the anti-terror law.
The attachment proceedings were conducted on August 13 in the presence of witnesses and with the assistance of revenue authorities, the statement said. The attachment order was served and read out before being affixed at the properties, and an attachment memorandum was prepared, the agency said. So far, 26 people have been arrested in the case.
