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Pak-based terror groups linked to drugs seized at Mudra: NIA
Eleven Afghan nationals, one Iranian citizen and four Indians including Chennai couple Machavaram Sudhakar and Govindaraju Durga Purna Vaishali have been named as accused in the case under terror and illegal drug smuggling charges
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday filed a chargesheet against 16 persons in the ₹21,000 crore Mundra drug haul case, saying the huge quantity of Afghan heroin seized was being smuggled to India at the behest of Pakistan-based terror outfits so that the money generated through it could be used for anti-India activities.
Eleven Afghan nationals, one Iranian citizen and four Indians including Chennai couple Machavaram Sudhakar and Govindaraju Durga Purna Vaishali have been named as accused in the case under terror and illegal drug smuggling charges
At least six accused, including key Afghan players Najibullah Khan Khalid and Muhammad Hussain Dad, Iranian national Javad Najafi are absconding.
As first reported by HT on January 6, Najibullah was running operations in India but he fled days after the 2988.21-kg heroin consignment was intercepted by the Directorate of Revenue and Intelligence (DRI) on September 13, 2021. The consignment was imported to India through a company run by the Chennai couple -- M/s Aashi Trading Company -- and was exported by M/s Hasan Hussain Ltd Kandahar, Afghanistan through the Bandar Abbas Port of Iran. Muhammad Hussain Dad runs Hasan Hussain Ltd.
The drugs were found concealed in an import consignment of ‘Semi-processed Talc stones’ originating from Afghanistan.
A statement issued by the NIA on Monday said: “During investigation, it was established that the smuggling of narcotics into India was carried out earlier as well by the same set of accused persons.”
“Hussain Dad and Mohammad Hasan Dad of M/s Hasan Hussain Ltd, Kandahar, Afghanistan and accused M Sudhakar, DP Vaishali and Rajkumar Perumal of M/s Aashi Trading Company, along with others, had entered into criminal conspiracy to smuggle huge quantity of narcotics to India by concealing them in consignments of semi processed talc,” NIA said.
It further said: “The consignment sent in September, 2021, was intercepted whereas earlier consignments were received and stored in a warehouse in Delhi for further distribution in Delhi and Punjab.”
It said links of the accused Mohammad Hasan Hussain Dad and Mohammad Hasan Dad and other co-conspirators have also emerged with proscribed terror organisations based in Pakistan.
“The proceeds of drugs trafficking were channelled to foreign entities through hawala channels at the behest of Pak-based terror outfits for use in anti-India activities,” it said.
The NIA probe has revealed that drugs consignments were successfully sent by the same syndicate at least twice - including a 16.105 Kg cache of Heroin, which was seized from a warehouse in Delhi after the recovery in Mundra and 20.25 kg heroin in Hoshiarpur, Punjab on July 1, last year.
Since Taliban’s takeover of the Afghanistan on August 15 last year, Indian agencies have been worried that huge quantities of Afghan heroin will be pushed into India by drug traffickers backed by Pakistan. Narcotics smuggling and trade has for long been used as a vehicle of funding by terror networks operating in Pakistan and targeting India. It was not immediately clear whether Nabibullah has any connections with such networks.
