Attari Drugs Seizure Case: NIA Arrests Eighth Key Accused

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made another arrest in the Attari drugs seizure case, bringing the total number of arrests to eight, the agency announced on Wednesday.

The arrested individual, Athar Saeed alias Chacha, is accused of handling the proceeds of the drugs under the instructions of the main perpetrator, Shahid Ahmed.

Athar Saeed was apprehended on Tuesday following NIA raids at his residence in Delhi’s Darya Ganj area, during which incriminating documents were seized. These documents are currently being examined by the anti-terror agency to uncover the entire conspiracy behind the extensive drugs racket, the NIA stated.

NIA investigations have revealed that Athar played a significant role in establishing and maintaining a network of hawala operators and others for transferring the money earned from drug sales in India to Afghanistan and the UAE. He facilitated the transfer of drug proceeds to the main accused individuals located abroad and aided the prime accused in fleeing the country.

The case involves the recovery and seizure of 102.784 kgs of heroin, valued at approximately Rs 700 crores, by the Indian Customs in two separate incidents in April 2022. The drugs were imported from Afghanistan through ICP Attari, Amritsar, and were concealed in a consignment of Licorice roots (Mulethi).