New Delhi, June 16 (ANI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday attached a house in Punjab belonging to a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative in connection with a transnational narco-terror network case with links spanning multiple countries.
According to the NIA, the property is registered in the name of the father of accused Ankush Kapoor, a key operative in India for the narco-terror network spread across Italy, Australia, Iran, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Pakistan, among other countries.
The property, identified as House No. 33, Holy City, Holy Enclave Phase-I, Amritsar, has been attached under Section 25(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the Salaya drug seizure case (RC-26/2020/NIA/DLI).
The NIA said the property was attached as “proceeds of terrorism” under Section 2(g)(ii) of the UAPA. An NIA team carried out the attachment following due legal process in the presence of independent witnesses and with the assistance of local authorities.
The agency said its investigation had revealed Ankush’s links with a Dubai-based accused connected to the banned terrorist organization LeT.
Ankush, who was arrested last year, was found to be an important operative in the conspiracy involving the smuggling, transportation, storage and distribution of narcotic substances, in addition to laundering proceeds of terrorism for accused individuals in various countries, according to the agency.
The NIA said its investigation had further shown that proceeds from narcotics trafficking were being used to finance and support terrorist activities in India through a complex and elaborate financial network.
The anti-terror agency had earlier charged Ankush for his role in terror financing, criminal conspiracy and providing support to unlawful and terrorist networks, in addition to offenses under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Indian Penal Code.
A total of 26 accused have so far been chargesheeted in the case, and the investigation is continuing.
The NIA said the attachment of the property is part of its efforts to dismantle and destroy the financial and logistical infrastructure supporting terrorist activities on Indian soil. (ANI)
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