New Delhi, May 13: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday said it has arrested wanted accused Iqbal Singh alias Shera after securing his extradition from Portugal in connection with a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen financing and narcotics smuggling case.

Officials said Shera was brought to India following legal and diplomatic proceedings and was taken into custody by an NIA team at Delhi airport upon his arrival from Portugal, where he had allegedly been staying since 2020.

According to the NIA, Shera was wanted in connection with case RC-23/2020/NIA/DLI relating to a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen narco-financing module. A non-bailable warrant had been issued against him in October 2020, while an Interpol notice for his arrest had been issued in June 2021.

The agency alleged that Shera was a key conspirator and handler of a Punjab-based network involved in smuggling heroin from Pakistan into India and routing proceeds through hawala channels.

Investigators said the funds generated through narcotics trafficking were allegedly transferred to operatives based in Pakistan and Kashmir linked with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.

A resident of Amritsar in Punjab, Shera is accused of coordinating drug trafficking operations, distribution networks and movement of funds through associates operating in Punjab.

The NIA further alleged that he had developed a network engaged in narcotics trafficking, collection of proceeds and transfer of funds to handlers operating across the border.

The case was initially registered by Punjab Police after the arrest of Hilal Ahmed Shergojri, identified by investigators as an overground worker linked to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.

Police had recovered Rs 29 lakh, described as proceeds linked to narcotics trafficking, from Shergojri’s possession. Investigators later recovered another Rs 32 lakh from alleged associates linked to the network in Punjab.

Following takeover of the investigation, the NIA launched efforts to dismantle the network and pursue Shera’s extradition from Portugal.

Further investigation in the case is continuing, officials said. [KNT]