The National Investigation Agency (NIA) apprehended Iqbal Singh alias Shera, a wanted narco-terrorist, upon his extradition from Portugal. Shera, believed to be the mastermind behind a significant Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) terror financing case, was brought back to India following diplomatic and legal efforts. He was taken into custody by the NIA team at Delhi airport upon his arrival from Portugal, where he had been evading authorities since 2020.
This successful extradition and arrest of Shera mark a crucial development in NIA’s efforts to combat Pakistan-supported narco-terrorism and cross-border terror networks in India. Shera had been declared a wanted accused in the HM Narco-Terror Module case, with a non-bailable warrant issued against him in October 2020. An Interpol notice for his arrest was also issued in June 2021.
During the investigation, the NIA identified Shera as a key conspirator and handler of an India-based narco-terror module engaged in smuggling heroin from Pakistan into India. Hailing from Punjab’s Amritsar district, Shera orchestrated the trafficking of narcotics across the border and managed a substantial distribution network within the country.
Officials revealed that Shera oversaw the trafficking and distribution of heroin consignments, directing the proceeds through hawala channels to Pakistan and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen operatives in Kashmir to finance terror activities. He established a Punjab-based network involved in heroin trafficking, money collection, and transferring funds to terror handlers and operatives, allegedly maintaining close ties with Pakistan-based HM members.
The case originated from the Punjab Police’s arrest of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen overground worker Hilal Ahmed Shergojri, where Rs 29 lakh in drug proceeds were seized. Subsequent investigations led to the recovery of an additional Rs 32 lakh, suspected to be linked to narco-terror funding, from various Punjab-based individuals associated with the terror network. The NIA, after assuming control of the probe, intensified efforts to dismantle the module and secure Shera’s extradition from Portugal, with further investigations ongoing.
