NEW DELHI. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken a major action in a high-profile narco-terror case by attaching a property in Amritsar, Punjab, which is allegedly linked to a transnational network connected to the banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). According to the agency, the network spans multiple countries and is suspected of using drug trafficking proceeds to fund terrorist activities.
Property Attached In Amritsar
The attached property was registered in the name of the father of accused Ankush Kapoor, who is identified by investigators as a key Indian operative in the syndicate. The NIA has stated that the case involves a complex international structure with operational links extending to Italy, Australia, Iran, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and Pakistan, among other countries.
Registration Begins for FutureCrime Summit 2026, India’s Largest Cybercrime Conference
According to the agency, investigations have revealed that Ankush Kapoor maintained connections with a Dubai-based associate who is allegedly linked to the LeT-associated network. This network is believed to have been involved in smuggling, transportation, storage, and distribution of narcotics across borders, forming a structured chain of illegal operations.
Drug Proceeds Under Scanner
The proceeds generated from drug trafficking were allegedly routed through multiple financial channels and layered transactions across different jurisdictions. The objective, according to investigators, was to conceal the origin of funds and channel the money into terror-related activities. The agency has described the system as a sophisticated transnational financial network designed to support both organized crime and terrorism.
Officials further stated that the narco-terror module was not limited to drug trade alone but functioned as a hybrid structure combining criminal syndicates and terror-linked operatives. The funds were allegedly used to support activities connected to unlawful networks in India and abroad.
In the same case, the NIA has already filed charge sheets against 26 accused individuals so far. However, the investigation remains ongoing, and more arrests and attachments of properties are expected as authorities expand the scope of the probe.
Financial Links Being Traced
The agency has emphasized that the attached Amritsar property is a crucial financial link in the investigation, as it is believed to be part of the asset chain used to sustain the network’s funding structure. Investigators are now examining whether additional financial transactions connected to the property were also used to support illicit activities.
Security agencies have identified this case as a significant example of a transnational narco-terror ecosystem, where drug trafficking networks and terror outfits allegedly collaborate to finance operations across borders. Officials believe such networks pose a serious challenge to national security due to their scale, adaptability, and international reach.
Global Network Under Probe
The NIA has also indicated that further action is likely in the coming days, including additional seizures and possible arrests, as multiple layers of the network are still under investigation. Authorities are working to identify other domestic and international operatives who may be part of the broader conspiracy.
Officials added that the investigation is focusing on tracing financial flows, communication links, and cross-border transactions to dismantle the entire ecosystem. Coordination with international agencies is also being strengthened to track the global footprint of the syndicate.
This action comes amid heightened efforts by Indian security agencies to crack down on narco-terror activities, which are increasingly being viewed as a major threat due to the convergence of drug trafficking and terrorism financing networks operating across multiple countries.
