500 Kg Heroin, Pakistan and Lashkar: Inside the Salaya Narco-Terror Case
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has attached two properties in Amritsar belonging to accused Anwar Masih in the Salaya drug seizure case, a six-year-old investigation involving the alleged smuggling of 500 kg of heroin from Pakistan into India by sea.
The properties, registered in Masih's name, are Plot Nos. 128 and 129 in Phase-I of Akash Vihar in Amritsar's Sultanwind area. The NIA carried out the attachment on August 13 under Section 25(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
What is the Salaya drug seizure case?
The case, registered as RC-26/2020/NIA/DLI and popularly known as the Salaya drug seizure case, relates to the alleged smuggling of 500 kg of heroin from Pakistan to India through a sea route and its subsequent movement to Punjab.
According to the NIA, the investigation uncovered a transnational narco-terror network involved in the smuggling and distribution of narcotics. The agency has alleged that proceeds from the drug trade were channelled towards financing terrorist activities linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
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What has the NIA done now?
The agency has attached the two Amritsar properties after claiming that its investigation established a connection between the assets and proceeds linked to terrorism.
The attachment was carried out in the presence of witnesses and with assistance from revenue authorities, according to the NIA. The agency said the attachment order was served and read out before being affixed to the properties, and that an attachment memorandum and panchanama were prepared.
Which properties have been attached?
The properties are:
Plot No. 128, Phase-I, Akash Vihar, Sultanwind, Amritsar
Plot No. 129, Phase-I, Akash Vihar, Sultanwind, Amritsar
The NIA said both properties are registered in Anwar Masih's name.
Who is Anwar Masih?
Anwar Masih is an accused in the wider Salaya narco-terror investigation. The NIA named Masih among eight additional accused in its eighth supplementary chargesheet filed before the NIA Special Court in Ahmedabad in October 2025. The agency alleged that Masih had a role in the terror-financing conspiracy.
It is important to note that these remain investigative allegations against the accused and are subject to judicial proceedings.
How extensive was the alleged network?
The NIA said its investigation found that the network extended across Italy, Australia, the UAE, Thailand, Iran and Pakistan. The agency has previously alleged that the wider conspiracy involved the transportation and distribution of heroin and the movement of drug proceeds through international channels to fund LeT activities.
In its 2025 supplementary chargesheet, the NIA identified Italy-based Simranjit Singh Sandhu, Australia-based Tanveer Bedi and India-based Ankush Kapoor as key figures in the alleged network. It also named Pakistani national Tariq alias Bhaijaan, hawala operator Gagandeep Singh Arora, Tamanna Gupta, Sukhbir Singh alias Happy and Anwar Masih among the accused in that chargesheet.
How is the drug trade linked to terror financing?
The central allegation in the NIA's case is that money generated through the sale of the smuggled heroin was not simply retained as criminal proceeds but was channelled to finance LeT-linked activities.
The NIA has said the network used international financial channels, including hawala, to move the proceeds. Its October 2025 chargesheet alleged that Tanveer Bedi was involved in transferring drug proceeds through international hawala channels, while Gagandeep Singh Arora was allegedly involved in laundering money and facilitating illegal fund transfers.
How many people have been arrested?
The NIA said 26 accused persons have been arrested in the case so far. In its October 2025 update, the agency said eight other accused were absconding and that the investigation was continuing. The latest property attachment is part of the NIA's continuing investigation into the alleged financial infrastructure behind the drug-trafficking and terror-financing network.
The allegations made by the NIA have not been established by a court and the accused are entitled to due process.
(With inputs from yMedia and agencies)