Notorious smugglers, terrorist leaders and organizations from Pakistan are involved in drone drug smuggling from Pakistan to border states like Punjab, Jammu-Kashmir and Rajasthan. During his investigation of Pakistan's narco-terror, Bhaskar found the names of some of the major traffickers and organizations in the reports. which collects its illicit earnings by sending drugs to India through Hawala to Nepal and China and then transfers them from Pakistan through shell companies for anti-India terror activities. Terror organizations like Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed have made it a major financial source for directly funding their activities. According to sources, the notorious drug trafficker Hafiz Muhammad Ansar, who is linked to Pakistan's Punjab, has been appearing in drug trafficking in India.
Network: Forward smuggling, layering in transactions Local criminal gangs and shell companies deliver drugs to networks in other regions. Apart from hawala there are many ways to transfer his illegal earnings. Transferred through illegal means to Nepal and China and then to Pakistan. Money Laundering: In this first stage, illegal drug and cash proceeds are deposited into legitimate businesses, bank accounts and other financial institutions. Divide the cash into small parts and deposit it in different bank accounts. This way of avoiding large sums and suspicion is called 'smurfing'. It has also been legalized through casinos in China and Nepal. In the second phase of layering, the money moves through more complex transactions, with a portion of the cash also spent on target killing and extortion, particularly in Punjab and Maharashtra.
Gangs from Europe and Middle-East are also active for trafficking in India The drugs seized in Punjab have their roots in Pakistan as well as global networks operating in Europe and the UAE. Key figures like Jasmeet Hakimjada have been identified as the masterminds of narco terror, luring youth into this business and other criminal activities.
Pakistan also takes help from D Company to Baloch smugglers Dawood Ibrahim's D-Company network is also involved in terror activities and drug trafficking. Another notorious drug trafficker from Pakistan, Tahir Mahmood alias 'Chacha', also smuggles heroin to India from Afghanistan. Many gangs active in Balochistan also smuggle drugs into India from Afghanistan.
Examples of Earnings from Supplying Illegal Drugs…
- In 2020, 1,212 kg of drugs were trafficked in India. Rs.7.21 crore collected from him through hawala was received.
- In 2021, traffickers sent 1,504 kg of drugs to Punjab. Hawala collected Rs. This was revealed when the smugglers were caught with 8.54 crores.
- In 2022, 1,854 kg of drugs were supplied through clandestine networks. Against this Rs.8.45 crore was obtained through shell companies.
- So far in 2023, gangs have laundered Rs 30.83 crore through hawala, crypto-currency, against the supply of 2,005 kg of drugs.
Challenges of law enforcement agencies Despite all efforts, law enforcement agencies face many challenges. According to sources, a large section of the police in Punjab has been found involved in nexus with traffickers, which has weakened law enforcement efforts. However, the Punjab government has constituted an anti-narcotics task force. Apart from this, the seriousness has been shown by immediately transferring 10 thousand police personnel from the border districts.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
