India Thanks Portugal For Cooperation In Extradition Of Narco-Terror Suspect Iqbal Singh

India has expressed gratitude to the government of Portugal and its agencies for their cooperation in the successful extradition of wanted narco-terror suspect Iqbal Singh alias Shera , who was brought back to India to face trial in a major terror financing case.

Singh, a resident of Amritsar in Punjab, was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) at Delhi airport immediately after his arrival from Portugal, where he had been residing since fleeing India in 2020. A non-bailable warrant (NBW) was issued against him in October 2020, and an Interpol Red Notice followed in 2021.

According to investigators, Singh is a key accused in a Hizbul Mujahideen-linked narco-terror module involved in smuggling heroin from Pakistan into Punjab. He is alleged to have coordinated trafficking operations, distribution networks, and the movement of proceeds through hawala channels to fund terror activities.

Officials said the extradition was carried out under the India–Portugal bilateral extradition treaty after sustained diplomatic and legal efforts involving the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, NIA , and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) .

Reports also note that Portugal had earlier rejected India’s extradition request in 2021, but the case was later revived with strengthened legal assurances and documentation.

The Embassy of India in Lisbon thanked Portuguese authorities for their support, calling the extradition a significant step in dismantling international criminal networks and ensuring fugitives face justice in India.

The NIA described Singh as a key conspirator in a Pakistan-linked narco-terror network that channelled drug money to fund militant operations in Jammu and Kashmir.