NIA arrests eighth key accused in Attari drugs seizure case

New Delhi [India], May 1 (ANI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested another key accused in the Attari drugs seizure case, taking the total number of arrests to eight, the agency said on Wednesday.

According to the agency, the accused, Athar Saeed alias Chacha, had handled the proceeds of the drugs on the directions of the kingpin, Shahid Ahmed.

Athar Saeed was arrested on Tuesday after NIA teams searched his premises in Delhi’s Darya Ganj area and seized incriminating documents. The documents are being examined by the anti-terror agency to unravel the complete conspiracy behind the massive drugs racket, the NIA said.

NIA investigations have revealed that Athar was instrumental in creating and sustaining a network of hawala operators and others for the transfer of the money earned from the sale of narcotics from India to Afghanistan and UAE. In this manner, he was channelling the proceeds of the drugs to the main accused persons based abroad. He also played a critical role in helping the prime accused flee from the country, it added.

The case pertains to the recovery and seizure of a total of 102.784 kgs of heroin (narcotic substance) valued at approximately Rs 700 crores by the Indian Customs in two instalments in April 2022. The drugs had arrived in India from Afghanistan through ICP Attari, Amritsar, and had been concealed in a consignment of Licorice roots (Mulethi).