New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday attached a house in Amritsar (Punjab), linked to a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative in a transnational narco-terror network case with footprints spread across multiple countries, an official said.

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 case RC-26/2020/NIA/DLI (Salaya drug seizure case) as the “proceeds of terrorism”.

An NIA team carried out the attachment following the due process of law, in the presence of independent witnesses and with the assistance of local authorities, said the NIA in a statement.

The property was registered in the name of the father of the accused Ankush Kapoor – a key operative in India of the narco-terror network spread across Italy, Australia, Iran, Thailand, UAE and Pakistan, among other nations.

The NIA’s investigations revealed Kapoor’s links with a Dubai-based accused connected with the proscribed terrorist organisation- Lashkar-e -Taiba.

Kapoor, who was arrested last year, was found to be a very important operative of the conspiracy relating to smuggling, transportation, storage and distribution of narcotic substances, besides laundering the proceeds of terrorism to accused in various countries, the NIA said.

Investigations showed that the proceeds from the trafficking of narcotic substances 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 Kapoor for his role in terror-funding activities, criminal conspiracy, and providing support to unlawful and terrorist networks, in addition to offences under NDPS and IPC.

A total of 26 accused have so far been charge-sheeted in the case, in which the investigation is continuing.

Tuesday’s action was part of the NIA’s efforts to dismantle and destroy all financial and logistical infrastructure supporting terrorist activities on Indian soil, said the statement.

–IANS

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