Punjab Police Dismantle Narco-Terror Financial Network, One Arrested

Punjab Police have disrupted a significant financial link within a cross-border narco-terror module, resulting in the arrest of an individual connected to terror financing. The arrested suspect, identified as Satnam Singh, resides in Punnewal village, located in the Sangrur district of Punjab. This operation highlights ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and terrorism financing in the region.

According to Gaurav Yadav, Director General of Police, the investigation into this operation has its roots in the apprehension of a key narco-terror operative, Rajbir Singh, also known as Fauji. Rajbir was arrested at Raxaul, near the India-Nepal border, while allegedly attempting to escape to Nepal. His arrest is part of a broader inquiry into a network that has been linked to several serious crimes, including heroin trafficking and illegal arms distribution.

The investigation revealed that Satnam Singh, a taxi driver by profession, had traveled to Azerbaijan on a tourist visa in June 2022. During this trip, he reportedly made contact with a drug smuggler based in Pakistan. Authorities claim that Satnam facilitated financial transactions for the drug network by allowing his bank account and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) credentials to be utilized for routing proceeds from heroin trafficking, following directives from his Pakistan-based handler.

In a statement, Yadav emphasized that the network is connected to significant recoveries of heroin and illegal arms trafficking, as well as a grenade attack that occurred in Haryana’s Sirsa in November 2022.

Assistant Inspector General Deepak Pareek of the Special Operations Cell indicated that Rajbir disclosed during interrogation that after returning to India in September 2022, he re-established contact with the smuggler from Pakistan. The smuggler allegedly offered commissions to Rajbir for facilitating financial transactions on behalf of the drug network.

The investigation further uncovered that drug proceeds were deposited into Satnam’s bank account before being transferred to other members of the criminal network. Rajbir allegedly used the account of another individual, Gurjant Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran, to funnel funds into Satnam’s account. Gurjant has since been apprehended by Haryana Police.

Authorities are continuing their investigations to identify additional members of this narco-terror network. The Punjab Police’s proactive measures aim to dismantle such operations that threaten public safety and security.