New Delhi (Agency): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made a significant arrest in connection with a case involving an attempt to revive the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) through illegal drug transactions in India and Sri Lanka. The accused, identified as Lingam, a resident of Chennai, was nabbed as part of an ongoing investigation into a Sri Lankan illegal drugs and arms trade case that was registered in July 2022.
According to an official statement, Lingam was a key conspirator in the case, and his arrest brings the total number of individuals apprehended by the NIA to 14. Lingam was reportedly a close associate of another accused, Gunasekharan, and acted as a ‘Benami’ (proxy) for the latter’s illegal transactions involving the proceeds of drugs and arms.
The NIA investigations have uncovered that Lingam also forged ID documents for members of the racket to legitimize their illegal stay in India. The official statement further elaborated, “All the accused in the case were dealing actively in the illegal drugs trade in India and Sri Lanka. They were using the money earned from the drugs trade for funding acquisition and amassing of weapons for the revival of LTTE in the two countries.”
The illegal narcotics were sourced through an absconder named Haji Salim, who is suspected to be based in Pakistan.
The LTTE, a Tamil militant organization formerly based in Sri Lanka, was involved in a protracted civil conflict in the country. The group was defeated in 2009, but there have been ongoing concerns about attempts to revive the organization.
The arrest of Lingam and the unraveling of this case mark an essential step in thwarting any potential resurgence of LTTE activities. The connection between illegal drug trade and attempts to fund and arm militant activities highlights the complex and transnational nature of such threats.
The efforts by the NIA to dismantle this network reflect the continued vigilance required to ensure national and regional security. The investigation is likely to continue as authorities work to uncover the full extent of this criminal network, its reach, and its potential impact on stability in the region.
