New Delhi, June 16: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday attached a residential property in Punjab’s Amritsar in connection with a transnational narco-terror network allegedly linked to the Pakistan-based terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
According to the NIA, the attached property is a house located in Holy City, Holy Enclave Phase-I, Amritsar. The agency said the property was attached as “proceeds of terrorism” following due legal procedures and in the presence of independent witnesses and local authorities.
The house is registered in the name of the father of accused Ankush Kapoor, whom investigators have identified as a key India-based operative of an international narco-terror syndicate with links extending to Italy, Australia, Iran, Thailand, the UAE, Pakistan and other countries.
NIA investigations revealed that Kapoor maintained connections with a Dubai-based accused who was allegedly linked to the banned terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba. Kapoor, arrested last year, is accused of playing a major role in the smuggling, transportation, storage and distribution of narcotic substances, besides laundering terror funds through an extensive international financial network.
The agency said its probe uncovered evidence indicating that proceeds generated through drug trafficking were being diverted to finance and support terrorist activities in India.
Kapoor has already been chargesheeted on charges related to terror financing, criminal conspiracy and providing support to unlawful and terrorist networks, along with offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and other relevant laws.
So far, the NIA has chargesheeted 26 accused in the case. The investigation remains ongoing as the agency continues efforts to dismantle the financial and logistical infrastructure supporting terrorism and narco-terror activities.
