Who Is Iqbal Singh? Wanted Narco-Terrorist Held By NIA After Extradition From Portugal

Last Updated:May 13, 2026, 17:52 IST

Iqbal Singh alias Shera was brought to India and taken into custody by an NIA team at the Delhi airport upon his arrival from Portugal.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday arrested Hizbul Mujahideen-linked narco-terrorist Iqbal Singh alias Shera after successfully securing his extradition from Portugal following extensive diplomatic and legal efforts.

Shera, accused of masterminding a major Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terror financing and narco-trafficking module, was brought to India and taken into custody by an NIA team at the Delhi airport upon his arrival from Portugal, where he had been absconding since 2020.

Who Is Iqbal Singh?

As per the probe agency, Shera was a key conspirator in a Pakistan-backed narco-terror network that smuggled heroin into Punjab and channelled the proceeds to terror operatives in Pakistan and Kashmir.

A native of Amritsar in Punjab, Shera coordinated the trafficking and distribution of narcotics smuggled from Pakistan and routed the money through hawala networks to Hizbul Mujahideen operatives to fund terror activities.

“He had formed a terror gang and operated a Punjab-based network involved in heroin trafficking, collection of sale proceeds and transfer of funds to handlers and terror operatives," the NIA said in a statement.

Investigators also alleged that Shera maintained close links with Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujahideen operatives and played a central role in sustaining the anti-India narco-terror conspiracy.

What’s The Case?

According to the agency, Shera had been declared a wanted accused in the HM Narco-Terror Module case, and a non-bailable warrant (NBW) had been issued against him in October 2020. An Interpol notice seeking his arrest had also been issued in June 2021.

The case was initially registered by the Punjab Police after the arrest of Hizbul Mujahideen overground worker Hilal Ahmed Shergojri. Police had recovered Rs 29 lakh in alleged drug proceeds from Shergojri, who was said to be a close aide of slain Hizbul commander Riyaz Ahmed Naikoo.

Subsequent investigations led to the recovery of another Rs 32 lakh from various Punjab-based members of the alleged terror network.

After taking over the probe, the NIA intensified efforts to dismantle the module and pursued Shera’s extradition from Portugal.

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