The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday, June 16, attached an Amritsar-based property allegedly linked to a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative in connection with a transnational narco-terror network case having footprints spread across multiple countries.
The address of the property is “House no 33, Holy City, Holy Enclave Phase-I, Amritsar”. The house has been attached as the “proceeds of terrorism”, read an official statement, PTI reported.
The attachment was carried out by a team of the central agency following due process of law. It is done in the presence of independent witnesses, besides taking assistance from local authorities.
According to NIA, the said property was registered in the name of the father of accused Ankush Kapoor, who is the key operative in India of the narco-terror network that spreads across multiple countries, such as Italy, Australia, Iran, Thailand, UAE and Pakistan.
During its investigtion, NIA found out that Ankush allegedly had links with a Dubai-based accused connected with the Pakistan-based proscribed terrorist organisation, Lashkar-e -Taiba.
Ankush was taken into custody last year. He was found to be an important operative of the conspiracy relating to smuggling, transportation, storage and distribution of narcotic substances as well as laundering the proceeds of terrorism to the accused in various countries, the NIA statement said.
Further, it came out that the proceeds from the trafficking of narcotic substances was used to finance and support terrorist activities in the country via a complex and elaborate financial network.
In total, 26 accused have so far been chargesheeted in the case, while the investigation is currently underway.