India has achieved a significant victory in its fight against drug trafficking with the deportation of narco-kingpin Navpreet Singh from Turkiye, underscoring the Modi government's unwavering commitment to dismantling drug cartels and bringing fugitives to justice.
Key Points
- Hardened narco-trafficking kingpin Navpreet Singh has been successfully deported from Turkiye to India.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared this a historic milestone, reaffirming the Modi government's pledge to dismantle all narco-cartels by December 2029.
- Singh, who operated under the fake identity of Navab Virk, was arrested by Delhi Police Special Cell upon arrival and remanded to 10-day custody for further investigation.
- The government's proactive strategy against fugitives has resulted in 288 individuals being brought back to India from 36 countries since 2019.
- Amit Shah emphasized a three-pronged strategy involving global outreach, strong coordination, and smart diplomacy to tackle fugitive offenders, linking it to national security and economic stability.
Hardened narco-trafficking kingpin Navpreet Singh has been deported from Turkiye, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday and termed it a historic milestone of the Modi government.
Delhi Police Special Cell arrested Singh after he arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, and he was sent to 10-day police custody by a court on Saturday, court sources said
Government's Stance On Drug Cartels
The Modi govt is committed to destroying every narco-cartel before December 2029, Shah asserted.
Singh had obtained Turkish citizenship under the fake identity of Navab Virk and continued to smuggle heroin and methamphetamine to India from Afghanistan, the Home Minister posted on X.
"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," the Home Minister said and congratulated all the agencies for this success.
Investigation And Fugitive Strategy
During the proceedings in court, the prosecutor said that Singh was the kingpin of a narco network and needed to be taken to several states, including Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, for probe regarding a 2022 NDPS case.
Following this, Special Judge Anuradha Shukla allowed Delhi Police's plea for 10 days' custody of Singh.
A statement from the Home Ministry said on Saturday that Red Corner notices have been issued against 401 fugitive criminals.
It said the Modi government has launched a coordinated campaign to bring back fugitives. Since 2019 to August 2026, a total of 288 fugitives from 36 countries have been brought back to India.
"Previous governments lacked the political will to bring back fugitives; the Modi government has made the extradition of fugitives a 'national priority'," a government statement said.
It said that Shah has emphasised a three-pronged strategy against fugitives: global outreach, strong coordination and smart diplomacy.
Shah described the issue of fugitive offenders as one that is intrinsically linked to the country's sovereignty, economic stability, law and order and national security, it said.
