Portugal, May 13: National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested Iqbal Singh, alias Shera, following his legal handover from Portugal. Shera is accused of functioning as a key handler for a narco-terror module that used drug trafficking proceeds to support the militant group Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.
The agency maintained that Shera had been absconding for nearly four years before sustained diplomatic efforts led to his successful extradition. Upon landing at the Delhi airport today, he was immediately detained by specialized teams. The NIA declared that Shera played a pivotal role in creating a Punjab-based network that managed the large-scale distribution of heroin smuggled across the international border.
“He had coordinated and overseen the trafficking and distribution of the smuggled drugs, and channelised the proceeds through hawala networks,” the NIA stated. Investigators affirmed that the illicit funds were intended to support terror operatives in both Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan.
The origins of the case trace back to an arrest by Punjab Police involving a terror associate and the recovery of significant cash amounts tied to narcotics sales. After taking over the investigation, the NIA identified Shera as the mastermind who oversaw the entire financial and logistics chain.
The agency noted that the arrest serves as a major victory in the fight against narco-terrorism. Shera’s network is alleged to have operated as a primary gateway for terror financing in the region. Officials affirmed that further interrogation of the suspect will help uncover more details about his Pakistan-based contacts and the local associates who assisted in his operations.
