New Delhi [India], August 23 (ANI): The Delhi Police 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 the investigation revealing alleged links to designated Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dalla, officials said on Sunday.

The Crime Branch of Dwarka has 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, police said.

According to the police, the investigation began after a specific input on February 7 led to the interception of a courier parcel at a courier company in Moti Nagar, Delhi, before it could be dispatched to Canada.

The parcel, declared to contain ordinary food and household articles, allegedly contained 2.998 kg of opium concealed beneath a specially fabricated false bottom.

A case was subsequently registered under Sections 18/23 of the NDPS Act at PS Crime Branch, New Delhi.

The investigators later traced the courier chain, analysed digital devices and financial transactions and followed the leads emerging during interrogation, police said.

The probe subsequently led to the recovery of another 921 grams of opium from a parcel destined for Canada, 1.196 kg from a third export consignment, and 23 grams from the conscious 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 investigation revealed an organised interstate network operating across Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, with foreign-based handlers allegedly coordinating procurement, concealment, transportation and international dispatch of narcotics.

According to investigators, the syndicate allegedly used forged KYC documents, fictitious consignor details, encrypted communication platforms and proxy or benami bank accounts and UPI channels to conceal the identities of the principal conspirators.

The investigation has also allegedly uncovered a drugs-for-weapons nexus. Police said the opium was sent abroad, where its proceeds were allegedly used to finance the activities of the Arsh Dalla-linked network and make payments to foreign-based hostile 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, police said.

The recovered opium has an estimated international market value of approximately Rs 3.5 crore in Canada, according to the police.Investigators said the network used GPS-based dead drops, encrypted applications including Signal and WhatsApp, specially fabricated false bottoms, and other concealment techniques to evade security screening and customs checks.

Police said the digital and financial investigation corroborated the roles of the accused and helped establish communication, consignee, and financial linkages within the syndicate. Among the arrested accused, Hardeep Singh, a 28-year-old resident of Barnala, Punjab, allegedly acted as an operational coordinator and organised the procurement and dispatch of the narcotics.

Yadvinder Singh alias Jashan Sandhu, 30, a resident of Sirsa, Haryana, allegedly coordinated procurement, concealment and packing and acted as a link between India-based operatives and foreign-based conspirators.

Simranjeet Singh, 24, a resident of Bathinda, Punjab, allegedly arranged forged KYC documents and booked and dispatched the consignments, while Jivan Singh, 23, a resident of Balotra, Rajasthan, allegedly operated as a link in the Rajasthan-based chain.

Police said further investigation has established the alleged involvement of absconding conspirators, including Arsh Dalla, his handlers and associates operating in Punjab. Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dalla, a native of Moga, 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 pipeline. Further recoveries and a supplementary charge sheet are expected as the investigation progresses, police said. (ANI)