In a significant development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has apprehended two more individuals linked to the massive Attari drug seizure case in Punjab’s Amritsar district last year. The agency revealed that the arrests were made on Thursday, with the suspects identified as Deepak Khurana, also known as Deepu from Ferozepur in Punjab, and Avtar Singh, alias Sunny, from Jamia Nagar in South Delhi.
The case, which unfolded in April 2022, involved the seizure of over 102 kilograms of heroin, valued at around Rs 700 crore. This illicit substance was cleverly concealed within a consignment of licorice roots (mulethi) and smuggled into the country. With these latest arrests, the total number of individuals detained in connection with the case has now risen to five.
According to the NIA, investigations into the financial aspects and associates of the accused uncovered Deepak Khurana’s role as a drug dealer and quality tester, as well as a handler of drug proceeds. Avtar Singh, on the other hand, was found to be involved in drug distribution, cash handling, and laundering drug proceeds through both banking and hawala channels.
Both Deepak and Avtar were identified as long-term associates of the prime accused, Razi Haider Zaidi, and Shahid Ahmed, also known as Qazi Abdul Wadood, as per the NIA’s statement. The agency emphasized that these two individuals played key roles in a broader conspiracy orchestrated by an international drug cartel, aimed at supplying drugs to various distributors in India and channeling the proceeds back to foreign-based accomplices.
The NIA further disclosed that the drug seizures in this case occurred in two phases, on April 24 and 26, 2022, by the Indian Customs Department at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) Attari in Punjab’s Amritsar. The total value of the seized narcotics was estimated to be approximately Rs 700 crore.
Investigations by the NIA also uncovered that the consignment was dispatched to India by an absconding accused, Nazir Ahmed Qani, from Mazar-e-Sharif in Afghanistan, under the instructions of another absconding accused, Shahid Ahmed alias Qazi Abdul Wadood, based in Dubai. The consignment was intended for delivery to Razi Haider Zaidi in India, for further distribution across the country.
Earlier, on December 16, 2022, the NIA had filed a chargesheet against Shahid Ahmed and Nazir Ahmed Qani, along with two others, namely Razi Haider Zaidi and Vipin Mittal, who were arrested earlier in the case. Additionally, Amritpal Singh was apprehended on December 15, 2022, while attempting to flee the country, after authorities recovered proceeds of narcotics amounting to Rs 1.34 crore from him, which were subsequently frozen under relevant legal provisions.
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