India expressed gratitude to the Portugal government and law enforcement for their assistance in extraditing Iqbal Singh, also known as ‘Shera,’ from Lisbon. Singh, accused of serious crimes like drug trafficking and terror financing, will face trial in India. The extradition, conducted under the bilateral agreement between India and Portugal, was a result of close coordination between various Indian ministries and agencies along with Portuguese authorities.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) in New Delhi confirmed the arrest of Iqbal Singh alias Shera, a wanted narco-terrorist, following his extradition from Portugal. Shera, believed to be the mastermind behind a significant Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) terror financing case, was apprehended upon his arrival in India after a prolonged legal process. This successful extradition is a significant achievement in the NIA’s efforts to combat Pakistan-backed narco-terrorism and cross-border terror networks in India.
Shera, a resident of Punjab’s Amritsar district, was identified as a key conspirator in an India-based narco-terror module involved in smuggling heroin from Pakistan. He orchestrated the trafficking of narcotics across the border, managed a distribution network within India, and channeled proceeds through hawala channels to fund terror activities in Pakistan and Kashmir. Shera also established a Punjab-based network engaged in heroin trafficking, money collection, and transferring funds to terror operatives, maintaining close ties with Pakistan-based HM members.
The extradition of Shera signifies a crucial step by the Indian government to eliminate avenues for criminal offenders and ensure they face justice in Indian courts. The successful operation was a result of the collaborative efforts between Indian and Portuguese authorities, marking a milestone in the fight against transnational crime and terrorism.
