Srinagar : In what has been officially termed as a significant breakthrough in India’s ongoing campaign against Pakistan-backed narco‑terror networks, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday announced the arrest of Hizb‑ul‑Mujahideen–linked fugitive Iqbal Singh, also known as Shera, following his successful extradition from Portugal.
“Singh’s capture marks a major advancement in efforts to dismantle cross‑border drug‑terror financing channels that have long fueled extremist activities,” officials said. The Hizb, designated as a terrorist organisation by the Indian government and several international bodies, has been active in Jammu and Kashmir from the initial days of militancy and has been responsible for severe violence and destabilisation efforts in the region.
According to the NIA, Shera—considered the mastermind of a major Hizb terror‑financing conspiracy—was brought back to India after sustained diplomatic coordination and a prolonged legal process. An NIA team took him into custody at Delhi airport immediately upon his arrival from Portugal, where he had been hiding since 2020. His extradition is being viewed as a substantial boost to India’s counter‑terrorism operations, particularly those targeting narcotics‑driven funding pipelines linked to Pakistan-based handlers.
Shera had been wanted since October 2020, with a non‑bailable warrant issued against him in case RC‑23/2020/NIA/DLI, which pertains to the Hizb narco‑terror module. An Interpol Red Notice had also been active since June 2021. Investigations revealed that Shera, a native of Amritsar in Punjab, played a central role in orchestrating the smuggling of heroin from Pakistan into India. He allegedly coordinated the trafficking operations, supervised the distribution of narcotics, and ensured that the proceeds were funneled through hawala channels to Hizb operatives in Pakistan and Kashmir to support extremist activities.
To advance the narco‑terror conspiracy, Shera reportedly established a dedicated terror‑linked gang in Punjab, managing a network of associates responsible for transporting large quantities of heroin, collecting drug money, and transferring funds to handlers across the border. His close links with Pakistan-based Hizb operatives were a critical component of the financing chain that sustained the group’s violent operations, the NIA said.
The case initially came to light after Punjab Police arrested Hilal Ahmed Shergojri, an overground worker of Hizb and a close associate of slain commander Riyaz Ahmed Naikoo. Police recovered ₹29 lakh in drug proceeds from Hilal’s possession, and subsequent investigations led to the seizure of an additional ₹32 lakh from various Punjab-based members of the network. These recoveries exposed the scale of the narco‑terror nexus and prompted the NIA to take over the investigation.
Following its takeover, the NIA launched extensive efforts to dismantle the module and track down Shera, who had fled abroad. “His extradition marks the culmination of years of coordinated international engagement and intelligence-driven pursuit,” the agency said. It has stated that further investigation into the wider network and its financial channels remains ongoing.
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