New Delhi: The free run of notorious narco-trafficker Navpreet Singh ended after he was deported by Turkey on Saturday. He was taken into custody soon after landing in India.
Union home minister Amit Shah lauded the Modi government for securing the deportation, describing it as a ‘historic milestone’.
“Modi govt has achieved a historic milestone by securing the deportation of hardened narco-trafficking kingpin Navpreet Singh from Türkiye,” Shah posted on X.
Singh had obtained Turkish citizenship using the fake identity of Navab Virk and continued to smuggle heroin and methamphetamine from Afghanistan to India, the home minister said.
“Obtaining Turkish citizenship under the fake identity of Navab Virk, he had continued to smuggle heroin and methamphetamine to India from Afghanistan. Our agencies tracked him down, ripping apart veil after veil to unmask his true identity, and secured his deportation. Today he has been brought back to India and put behind bars in connection with cases involving drug trafficking and other crimes he is accused of. Congratulations to all the agencies for this success,” he said.
Shah also reiterated the government’s commitment to tackling drug trafficking.
“Modi govt is committed to destroying every narco-cartel before Dec 2029,” he added.
Mohammad Salim Dola, a suspected drug trafficker and close Dawood aide, was brought back from Turkey earlier in April, as reported by Mid-Day.
Shah had then said that the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had achieved a breakthrough in securing Dola’s return from Turkey. Dola’s arrest reflected the government’s resolve to bring narcotics fugitives and members of organised crime syndicates to justice, he had said.
The Delhi Police Special Cell, in coordination with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had also secured the return of fugitive Prabhdeep Singh from Azerbaijan, in connection with a major narcotics case involving the recovery of 358 kg of heroin, in May.
Prabhdeep, who had been absconding since 2023, was brought back to India from Baku by a three-member Special Cell team after completion of extradition formalities, police said.
In 2001, India and Turkey signed an extradition treaty. This came into force in June 2002. Under this agreement, both countries can seek the transfer of fugitives wanted in terrorism and other serious criminal cases.
Turkey, in the past, has assisted India in deporting individuals linked to extremist networks, including suspected Islamic State operatives. Such cases are often coordinated through Interpol using Red Notices and other established procedures.