India Thanks Portugal After Extradition of Wanted Narco-Terror Accused

NEW DELHI — India has thanked Portugal for helping extradite wanted fugitive Iqbal Singh, also known as Shera, from Lisbon to face trial in India on drug trafficking and terror financing allegations.

The Indian Embassy in Lisbon said Singh is accused of several serious offenses and would now be tried before Indian courts. The extradition was carried out under the bilateral extradition agreement between India and Portugal after the issuance of an Interpol Red Notice.

“The extradition has been effected under the bilateral extradition agreement between India and Portugal, pursuant to the issuance of a Interpol Red notice. The extradition was closely coordinated between the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, National Investigation Agency (NIA), Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) and the Embassy of India in Lisbon, in cooperation with the relevant authorities in Portugal,” the embassy said in a statement.

“The extradition of Iqbal Singh is an important step in the ongoing efforts of the Government of India to close down all avenues for criminal offenders, and bring them before courts in India to face trial and justice. The Government of India thanks the Government of Portugal and its agencies for their co-operation and support in the successful extradition of Iqbal Singh to India,” it added.

The National Investigation Agency said Singh was arrested at Delhi airport after being brought back from Portugal following diplomatic and legal efforts. The agency described him as the alleged mastermind of a major Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terror financing case.

Officials said Singh had been living in Portugal since 2020. The NIA said he had been declared wanted in the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen narco-terror module case, with a non-bailable warrant issued against him in October 2020 and an Interpol notice issued in June 2021.

According to investigators, Singh, a resident of Punjab’s Amritsar district, allegedly helped run an India-based narco-terror network that smuggled heroin from Pakistan into India. The NIA said he coordinated the trafficking and distribution of heroin consignments and routed proceeds through hawala channels to Pakistan- and Kashmir-based Hizb-ul-Mujahideen operatives to fund terror activities.

Officials said Singh had created a Punjab-based network involved in heroin trafficking, collecting drug money and transferring funds to terror handlers. He was also allegedly in close contact with Pakistan-based Hizb-ul-Mujahideen operatives.

The case was first registered by Punjab Police after the arrest of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen overground worker Hilal Ahmed Shergojri. Police recovered Rs 29 lakh in alleged drug proceeds from Shergojri, who was described as a close associate of slain terrorist commander Riyaz Ahmed Naikoo.

Investigators later recovered another Rs 32 lakh, believed to be connected to narco-terror funding, from Punjab-based members of the alleged network. The NIA later took over the case and pursued Singh’s extradition from Portugal.

The extradition came days after India secured the return of another wanted fugitive, Abhay Rana, from Portugal. The Indian Embassy in Lisbon said Rana was extradited under the same bilateral agreement after an Interpol Red Notice.

“The return of Abhay Rana marks an important step in the ongoing efforts of the Government of India to extradite fugitives currently residing in various foreign countries. The success of this operation was made possible through active and sustained coordination between the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Haryana Police and the Embassy of India in Lisbon and various law enforcement agencies of Portugal,” the embassy said.

The CBI said Rana was wanted by Haryana Police in multiple criminal cases, including allegations of extortion, criminal intimidation, operating an organized crime syndicate, attempted murder and issuing life threats. (Source: IANS)