NEW DELHI, Aug 14: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has attached two immovable properties in Amritsar belonging to an alleged drug trafficker in connection with a 500-kg heroin smuggling case involving an alleged transnational narco-terror conspiracy, officials said on Friday.
The properties, located in Phase-I of Akash Vihar and Sultanwind in Amritsar, are registered in the name of accused Anwar Masih, according to the agency.
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 links to a transnational narcotics network operating across Italy, Australia, the UAE, Thailand, Iran and Pakistan.
The agency alleged that the network was involved in the smuggling and distribution of narcotics and channelled the proceeds towards financing terrorist activities linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
The NIA said its investigation established a connection between the attached properties and proceeds allegedly linked to terrorism. The properties were consequently attached under provisions of the anti-terror law.
The attachment proceedings were carried out on August 13 in the presence of witnesses and with the assistance of revenue authorities, the agency said.
The attachment order was served and read out before being affixed at the properties, following which an attachment memorandum was prepared.
The NIA said 26 accused persons have so far been arrested in connection with the case.
