The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday attached a residential property in Amritsar, Punjab, linked to a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative in a transnational narco-terror network case with footprints across multiple countries.
Property Details
The attached property, identified as House No. 33, Holy City, Holy Enclave Phase-I, Amritsar, was seized under Section 25 (1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in the Salaya drug seizure case. It was classified as 'proceeds of terrorism' under Section 2 (g) (ii) of the UAPA.
Legal Process
An NIA team carried out the attachment following due legal process, in the presence of independent witnesses and with assistance from local authorities.
Accused Background
The property was registered in the name of the father of accused Ankush Kapoor, a key operative in India of the narco-terror network spanning Italy, Australia, Iran, Thailand, UAE, and Pakistan, among other nations. NIA investigations revealed Ankush's links with a Dubai-based accused connected with the proscribed terrorist organisation LeT.
Ankush's Role
Ankush, arrested last year, was found to be a very important operative in the conspiracy relating to smuggling, transportation, storage, and distribution of narcotic substances, besides laundering proceeds of terrorism to accused in various countries.
Financing Terror
Investigations further showed that proceeds from narcotic trafficking were used to finance and support terrorist activities in India through a complex and elaborate financial network.
Charges
The anti-terror agency earlier charged Ankush for his role in terror-funding activities, criminal conspiracy, and providing support to unlawful and terrorist networks, in addition to offences under the NDPS Act and the IPC. As many as 26 accused have been chargesheeted in the case so far.
