NEW DELHI: Delhi Police’s Crime Branch has busted an alleged international narco-terror module involved in cross-border opium trafficking, a drugs-for-weapons nexus and terror financing, with investigations revealing alleged links to designated Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dalla, officials said on Sunday.The Crime Branch’s Dwarka unit arrested four alleged members of the syndicate and recovered a total of 5.138 kg of opium from multiple export consignments and from the possession of one of the accused, according to news agency PTI.According to police, the investigation began on February 7 after receiving specific information about a courier parcel that was intercepted at a courier company in Moti Nagar, Delhi, before it could be dispatched to Canada.The parcel, declared as containing food and household items, allegedly concealed 2.998 kg of opium beneath a specially fabricated false bottom. Following the seizure, a case was registered under Sections 18 and 23 of the NDPS Act at the Crime Branch police station in New Delhi.During the investigation, police traced the courier network, analysed digital devices and scrutinised financial transactions. Based on leads that emerged during questioning, investigators recovered another 921 grams of opium from a parcel bound for Canada, 1.196 kg from a third export consignment and 23 grams from the possession of accused Simranjeet Singh.The four arrested accused have been identified as Simranjeet Singh, Hardeep Singh, Yadvinder Singh alias Jashan Sandhu and Jivan Singh.Police said the probe uncovered an organised interstate network operating across Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, with foreign-based handlers allegedly coordinating the procurement, concealment, transportation and international dispatch of narcotics.According to investigators, the syndicate allegedly relied on forged KYC documents, fictitious consignor details, encrypted communication platforms and proxy or benami bank accounts and UPI channels to hide the identities of key conspirators.The investigation has also allegedly revealed a drugs-for-weapons nexus. Police said the narcotics were sent abroad and the proceeds were allegedly used to finance the activities of the Arsh Dalla-linked network and make payments to foreign-based handlers.In return, weapons were allegedly smuggled into Punjab through cross-border drone drops for use by gang members and associates operating in the state.The recovered opium is estimated to be worth around Rs 3.5 crore in the Canadian market, police said.Investigators said the network used GPS-based dead drops, encrypted applications such as Signal and WhatsApp, specially fabricated false bottoms and other concealment methods to evade security screening and customs checks.Police said digital and financial evidence corroborated the roles of the accused and helped establish communication, consignee and financial links within the syndicate.Among those arrested, Hardeep Singh, 28, a resident of Barnala in Punjab, allegedly acted as an operational coordinator and organised the procurement and dispatch of narcotics.Yadvinder Singh alias Jashan Sandhu, 30, a resident of Sirsa in Haryana, allegedly coordinated procurement, concealment and packing, and served as a link between India-based operatives and foreign-based conspirators.Simranjeet Singh, 24, from Bathinda in Punjab, allegedly arranged forged KYC documents and booked and dispatched the consignments, while Jivan Singh, 23, a resident of Balotra in Rajasthan, allegedly functioned as a key link in the Rajasthan-based network.Police said further investigation has established the alleged involvement of absconding conspirators, including Arsh Dalla and his associates operating from Punjab.Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dalla, a native of Moga in Punjab, was designated an individual terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in January 2023. Police said he is also associated with the Khalistan Tiger Force, a banned terrorist organisation.The Crime Branch said efforts are underway to trace the absconding accused, establish the complete financial trail, identify international associates and dismantle the entire drugs-for-weapons network. Further recoveries and a supplementary chargesheet are expected as the investigation progresses, police added.
