NIA arrests Hizb-ul-Mujahideen linked ‘narco-terrorist’ after extradition from Portugal

<p>The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday (May 13, 2026) arrested an alleged “narco-terrorist”, Iqbal Singh, after securing his extradition from Portugal following sustained diplomatic and legal efforts.</p><p>The agency alleged that Singh, alias Shera, was a mastermind in a major Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) terror-financing case. He was brought to Delhi and taken into custody by the NIA. The accused had fled to Portugal in 2020.</p><p>A non-bailable arrest warrant was issued against him in October 2020, while an Interpol Red Notice was opened in June 2021.</p><p>According to the NIA, Shera was a key conspirator and handler of an India-based narco-terror module engaged in smuggling heroin from Pakistan.</p><p>“A native of Amritsar in Punjab, Shera had masterminded the conspiracy involving the smuggling of narcotics from Pakistan into the border State. He had coordinated and overseen the trafficking and distribution of the smuggled drugs and channelised the proceeds through ‘hawala’ networks to Pakistan and Kashmir-based operatives of HM to facilitate terror activities,” it said.</p><p>The agency alleged that Shera had formed a gang and operated a Punjab-based network of associates engaged in trafficking large quantities of heroin, collecting sale proceeds, and transferring funds to handlers and terror operatives. He had maintained close links with Pakistan-based HM terror operatives, the agency said.</p><p>The case was previously registered by the Punjab police following the arrest of an alleged HM overground worker identified as Hilal Ahmed Shergojri. The police had also seized ₹29 lakh in alleged drug proceeds from his possession.</p><p>Hilal was allegedly a “close aide” of deceased militant commander Riyaz Ahmed Naikoo. Further investigation led to the recovery of another ₹32 lakh from various Punjab-based members of the gang.</p>