NIA Attaches Two Amritsar Properties in 500-Kg Heroin Narco-Terror Case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has attached two immovable properties in Amritsar belonging to alleged drug peddler Anwar Masih in connection with a 500-kg heroin smuggling case involving a suspected transnational narco-terror conspiracy, officials said on Friday.

The properties, located in Phase-I of Akash Vihar and Sultanwind in Amritsar, are registered in Masih’s name. The case, popularly known as the Salaya drug seizure case, relates to the alleged smuggling of 500 kg of heroin from Pakistan to India through a sea route.

According to the NIA, its investigation has uncovered Masih’s alleged involvement in an international narcotics network operating across Italy, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Iran and Pakistan. The network was allegedly involved in smuggling and distributing narcotics and subsequently channelising the proceeds to fund terrorist activities linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

The agency said its investigation established a connection between the attached properties and proceeds linked to terrorism, leading to their attachment under provisions of the anti-terror law.

The attachment proceedings were conducted on August 13 in the presence of witnesses and with assistance from revenue authorities, the NIA said. The attachment order was served and read out before being affixed to the properties. An official attachment memorandum was also prepared during the proceedings.

The development forms part of the NIA’s continuing investigation into the alleged drug-terror financing network associated with the massive heroin seizure. The agency is examining the wider international links and financial channels allegedly used to move narcotics proceeds and support terrorist activities.

So far, 26 accused persons have been arrested in the case, according to the probe agency. The latest property attachment marks another step in the investigation aimed at tracing and confiscating assets allegedly connected with the proceeds of the narcotics and terror-financing network.