The State Investigation Agency (SIA) has filed a chargesheet against 11 individuals in connection with a major cross-border narco-terror case registered at Police Station SIA Jammu.
The case, initially filed in 2022, exposed an elaborate drug trafficking and terror financing network orchestrated by Pakistan-based terrorist organisations, with the aim of funding militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
The investigation revealed that operatives of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), including Basharat Ahmad Bhat—currently operating from Rawalpindi, Pakistan—directed the network.
The chargesheet also names Syed Mohammad Yusuf Shah, alias Syed Salahudeen, the self-proclaimed head of Hizbul Mujahideen, as a key accused.
Both masterminded the smuggling of narcotics into India and issued instructions on distributing the proceeds to fund terrorist activities
Local operatives involved in drug distribution
The chargesheet lists individuals from various districts of Jammu and Kashmir who were actively involved in smuggling, storing, and distributing narcotics.
Several of the accused had no verifiable source of income but had accumulated significant wealth through the drug trade.
The investigation found that the accused largely sold the smuggled drugs to local youth and actively recruited others into the network to expand their operations.
A crucial element of the case is the use of narcotic funds to finance terrorism.
SIA officials discovered that one of the accused deposited the earnings from drug sales into his bank account, acting on the direct orders of Basharat Ahmad Bhat.
They then channelled these funds into terror-related activities in the region, clearly demonstrating a strategic attempt to destabilise Jammu and Kashmir through narco-terrorism.
The SIA believes this is part of a larger conspiracy by Pakistan-sponsored terror outfits to target the socio-political fabric of the Union Territory.
By weaponising narcotics and exploiting economically vulnerable populations, groups like Hizbul Mujahideen aim to sustain and expand militant operations under the guise of criminal trade.
Further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend other members of this international network, with the SIA reaffirming its commitment to dismantling terror-financing ecosystems.
Strategic progress in counter-terror measures
This chargesheet marks a major milestone in the ongoing efforts of Indian security agencies to counter the dual threats of drug abuse and terrorism.
The SIA’s investigation not only exposes a dangerous nexus but also strengthens the legal framework to act against individuals exploiting cross-border routes for destabilising peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
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