New Delhi, July 12
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed another chargesheet in the Salaya drug seizure case in connection with the smuggling of 500 kg of heroin from Pakistan into India via Gujarat.
The NIA named Manoj Kumar Sharma from Batala in Punjab as the 25th accused in its seventh chargesheet, who has been booked under various sections of the IPC, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The NIA took over the case from the Gujarat unit of the Anti-terrorism Act in 2020 under the home ministry's directives under suspicions that the case had international links.
The probe agency's investigation revealed that 500 kg of heroin was smuggled into Punjab from Pakistan through the sea route via Delhi and further distributed to many places in the country. The syndicate have been involved in Italy, Australia, Thailand, UAE, Iran and Afghanistan, in the criminal conspiracy.
The NIA found that Sharma played a major role in the drug racket along with Italy-based Simranjeet Singh Sandhu, Pakistan-based Hajisaab alias Bhaijaan and Nabi Baksh, and Australia-based Tanvir Singh Bedi. He was involved in smuggling, transporting, purifying and distributing the drugs in Punjab and other states of India.
The officials added that Manoj was also involved in further laundering of the proceeds through Hawala to Pakistan, Thailand, Italy and Australia. The proceeds of the drug sales were used to fund terrorists and terror organisations in Kashmir. He was also found to have purchased several properties from the proceeds of crime.
