The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed charges against 13 individuals, all Pakistani nationals, involved in a case dating back to 2022. The case pertains to the smuggling of weapons and contraband drugs from Pakistan through Gujarat, with the intention of financing terrorist operations within India.
In December 2022, law enforcement authorities successfully arrested 10 out of the 13 accused.
The arrests were made after a substantial quantity of drugs and arms, concealed within gas cylinders, was discovered on a Pakistani fishing boat.
The seized items included 40 kilograms of heroin, six foreign-made pistols, six magazines, 120 live 9mm cartridges, Pakistani identity cards, mobile phones, and Pakistani currency.
The chargesheet was officially submitted to the NIA Special Court in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
The document lists the names of 13 people, out of which 10 were arrested. Three more accused Pakistani nationals are still at large.
The fugitives were identified as Hazi Salim, Akbar, and Karim Baksh.
According to the NIA’s investigation, the arrested individuals collaborated with Hazi Salim, Akbar, and Karim Baksh to smuggle a shipment of sophisticated imported weapons into India.
The ultimate aim was to deliver these weapons to Harun, an accused individual based in India who is currently evading law enforcement agencies.
As per the conspiracy, Harun intended to use illegally smuggled weapons and contraband to finance various terrorist outfits and criminal gangs operating in Punjab and North India.
The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Gujarat received credible information about a Pakistani drug lord named Hazi Salim, who was attempting to smuggle large quantities of contraband drugs and illegal weapons through the Okha shore from Pakistan.