In its 2nd Supplementary charge sheet filed in the Mundra port drug haul case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on February 20, 2023, revealed that funds generated through the sale of smuggled heroin to India were provided to the operatives of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) to carry out terror activities.
NIA filed its second supplementary charge sheet against 22 accused and companies, including Pakistan-occupied Kashmir-based operative Mohammad Iqbal Awan, Dubai-based Vityesh Koser and Talwar, before a special court in Ahmedabad on February 22.
Notably, NIA had filed its first charge sheet in the case against 16 members of the cartel on March 14, 2022 and the second charge sheet against nine suspects was filed on August 29, 2022.
On September 13, 2021, 2,988 kgs of Afghan heroin was seized at Mundra Port. In a statement on February 20, 2023, NIA cited its investigation and said it has emerged that foreign-based narcotic traders were running an organised network of syndicate members for importing heroin-laden consignments into Indian Ports.
“During further investigation of the case, it was found that there is an organised criminal conspiracy to smuggle illegal consignments of heroin through international trade routes to India from Afghanistan. While investigating forward and backward linkages of the crime, a well-oiled network of operatives involved in the import, facilitation and transport of drug laden consignments has been uncovered. It has also been revealed that consignments were being imported through multiple fake/shell import proprietorship firms floated in India through multiple accused,” said NIA in its charge sheet on February 20, 2023 in a release.
NIA’s charge sheet further said, “The prime accused Harpreet Singh Talwar visited Dubai, UAE on multiple occasions and wilfully participated in the conspiracy for exploiting the commercial sea-route of import, in order to smuggle heroin into India in commercial quantities. He is running multiple trades in New Delhi, like clubs, retail showrooms and import firms. These firms are opened by Kabir Talwar in the names of his employees, relatives and friends, which are solely operated by him. These firms were used for importing narcotics, banned items and receiving remittances in form of legitimate goods in lieu of his role in the smuggling cartel. Over a dozen such firms have been identified and investigated, including the charge-sheeted firm, M/s Magent India This company was used to import and receive heroin disguised as semi-processed talc stone from Afghanistan to India.”
“During investigation it has emerged that an organized network of syndicate members was being run by foreign based narcotic traders for importing the heroin laden consignments into Indian Ports (Mundra, Kolkata) and its further delivery to various warehouses located at New Delhi. The India based network of Afghan nationals was responsible for hiring these warehouses and for processing/extracting and distributing the heroin once it reached New Delhi. Investigation established that funds generated through the sale proceeds of heroin were provided to operatives of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) for furtherance of terrorist activities in India,” NIA charge sheet added.
