Portugal, May 13: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) successfully took custody of wanted narco-terrorist Iqbal Singh, also known as Shera, on Wednesday following his extradition from Portugal. Shera, an Amritsar native who fled India in 2020, is identified as a central figure in a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) conspiracy involving the smuggling of narcotics from Pakistan into Punjab to finance terror operations.
Investigating officials stated that Shera was apprehended by an NIA team at the Delhi airport immediately upon his arrival. The agency affirmed that his return was the result of extensive legal and diplomatic coordination. Shera had been the subject of a non-bailable warrant since 2020 and an Interpol Notice issued in mid-2021.
“Shera had masterminded the conspiracy involving smuggling of narcotics from Pakistan into the border state,” the NIA declared in a statement. The agency maintained that the suspect coordinated the trafficking and distribution of heroin, subsequently moving the proceeds through hawala networks to operatives in Kashmir and Pakistan.
The case originated with the Punjab Police following the arrest of Hilal Ahmed Shergojri, an associate of a deceased terror commander. During that initial operation, authorities recovered ₹29 lakh in drug money, with subsequent investigations leading to the seizure of another ₹32 lakh from various gang members.
The NIA asserted that Shera had established a sophisticated criminal gang in Punjab to manage the collection of sale proceeds and the transfer of funds. He reportedly maintained direct communication with Pakistan-based handlers to facilitate anti-India activities. Officials noted that the investigation is ongoing as the agency looks to further dismantle the cross-border network.
