Quite disappointing
NIA arrests third accused in 2022 Attari border drug haul case
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a key accused wanted in connection with the recovery of 102 kg heroin at the Attari border in April 2022.
“We have arrested a man identified as Amritpal Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran district in Punjab. He was taken into custody on Friday,” an agency spokesperson said in a statement. He is the third person to be arrested in the case.
Investigation has so far revealed that Singh was the handler of cash and laundered drug proceeds through banking and hawala channels. The Customs department had seized 102.784 kg heroin worth Rs 700 crore in two instalments on April 24 and 26, 2022. The drugs arrived in the country from Afghanistan via the Integrated Check Post at Attari in Amritsar. The drugs had been concealed in a consignment of Licorice roots (mulethi).
“Singh was detained by Immigration officers on December 12 while trying to flee to Dubai from the Amritsar International Airport. The immigration officers detained him on the basis of the orders by the competent authority on December 7, in view of the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against him by the NIA,” the spokesperson said.
“Singh’s role in the conspiracy relating to the international drug nexus came to light following the examination of associates of various persons accused in the case, and also from several incriminating transactions done by him in the bank accounts of other accused,” the spokesperson added.
“Investigations also revealed Singh to have been involved in the larger conspiracy hatched by a global drug cartel. As part of the drug network, he was the conduit for circulation of drug money to various distributors in India as well as the main accused settled abroad,” the NIA spokesperson said, adding that Singh used his travel agency and money transfer business to transfer the proceeds of drugs.
Express News Service – 2023-12-17 01:37