Guwahati: A special NIA court in New Delhi has sentenced a Thai national and arms smuggler, Willy Naruenartwanich, to six years’ imprisonment in a case registered 16 years ago over an international arms procurement plan of NSCN (IM).NIA stated that the investigation established that the proposed procurement and transhipment arrangement was valued at approximately US$1.2 million.Last month, the special court convicted Willy, popularly known as Willy Naru, for conspiring to procure sophisticated arms and ammunition from China through Bangladesh for NSCN (IM). The sentence was awarded on Thursday.“The weapons were intended to strengthen the outfit’s armed cadres and facilitate terrorist activities, besides constituting preparatory acts for waging war against the Government of India,” NIA stated.NIA registered the case in 2010, following an order of the ministry of home affairs.According to the investigation, Naruenartwanich, a Thai businessman based in Bangkok, acted as a middleman and key conspirator in the arms procurement network.“He worked in coordination with Anthony Shimray, the NSCN (IM)’s chief arms procurer, and facilitated negotiations with representatives of a Chinese arms and ammunition company,” the central investigating agency stated.NIA filed the charge sheet against Shimray, Calvin, Tangkhul and Naruenartwanich in 2011.
