In a major breakthrough against international narco-terror networks, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against eight accused for smuggling 500 kilograms of heroin from Pakistan to India in 2020. Investigations have revealed that proceeds from the illicit trade were allegedly used to fund terror operations of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), one of Pakistan’s most notorious terror outfits.
The 2020 Heroin Haul — A Case That Shocked the Nation
The case dates back to July 2020, when Indian authorities intercepted a massive consignment of heroin at Salaya Port in Gujarat. Trafficked through the Arabian Sea, the drugs were meant to be distributed across Punjab, one of India’s most vulnerable regions to cross-border smuggling.
The NIA’s probe uncovered a dark web of drug cartels and terror financiers operating seamlessly across continents, merging criminal enterprise with jihadist financing. Investigators describe it as a “disturbing evolution” — where narcotics became a weapon of destabilization.
The Masterminds and Global Trail
In its eighth supplementary chargesheet, the NIA has named three masterminds who allegedly orchestrated the operation from different corners of the globe:
Simranjit Singh Sandhu — based in Italy, accused of coordinating international drug movements and hawala transfers.
Tanveer Bedi — operating from Australia, allegedly responsible for routing funds through hawala networks to support LeT.
Ankush Kapoor — the key India-based handler, managing logistics, warehousing, and distribution across Punjab.
Other accused include Tariq alias Bhaijaan (a Pakistani national who handled sea shipments), Gagandeep Singh Arora (hawala operator), Tamanna Gupta, Sukhbir Singh alias Happy, and Anwar Masih.
An International Web of Crime and Terror
The investigation uncovered links spreading across India, Pakistan, Italy, Australia, the UAE, Iran, and Thailand, revealing the transnational character of the syndicate.
Funds generated from the heroin trade were allegedly laundered through hawala channels, reaching Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives to sustain recruitment, training, and logistics for terror operations.
So far, 26 individuals have been arrested, while eight remain absconding. The NIA took over the probe from the Gujarat ATS, citing the case’s international scope and its implications for national security.
The Bigger Picture: Drugs as Terror’s Lifeline
Security experts warn that the case highlights a growing narco-terror threat in South Asia — where drug trafficking finances cross-border terrorism.
“Drug trafficking is no longer a purely criminal enterprise — it’s the financial bloodstream of modern terrorism,”
said a senior counter-terrorism analyst.
Experts call for enhanced maritime surveillance, stricter hawala monitoring, and real-time intelligence sharing among nations to choke the financial arteries of such networks.
Editorial Insight: A Wake-Up Call for India’s Security Establishment
This case isn’t just a criminal investigation — it’s a national security alarm.
The convergence of drugs, money, and terrorism underscores the need for a unified strategy against narco-terrorism, integrating law enforcement, financial watchdogs, and diplomatic pressure.
As one senior security official told The420.in,
“To fight terror, India must also fight the money that sustains it.”
