INDIA BRINGS FUGITIVE NARCOTICS SUSPECT BACK FROM TURKIYE IN MAJOR INTERNATIONAL OPERATION

October 3, 2026

Navpreet Singh, accused in drug-trafficking cases, has been deported from Turkiye and brought to India after agencies traced his alleged activities and identity abroad.

Navpreet Singh, described by Union Home Minister Amit Shah as a major narco-trafficking figure, has been deported from Turkiye and brought back to India, marking a significant development in an international drug-trafficking investigation.

According to Shah, Singh had allegedly obtained Turkish citizenship using the identity of Navab Virk and was involved in smuggling heroin and methamphetamine from Afghanistan into India. Indian agencies reportedly tracked his activities and worked to establish his identity before securing his deportation.

After returning to India, Singh has been placed in custody in connection with cases involving alleged drug trafficking and other offences. The investigation is expected to examine his alleged links with wider narcotics networks and the movement of illegal drugs across international borders.

The case highlights the increasingly international nature of organised narcotics trafficking, with criminal networks often operating across several countries and using false identities and foreign jurisdictions to evade law-enforcement agencies.

The deportation also underscores the importance of cooperation between Indian agencies and foreign authorities in locating suspects who operate outside India's territorial jurisdiction. Further investigation will determine the specific allegations and the evidence against Singh in the cases registered in India.

Shah said the government remains committed to dismantling narcotics networks and preventing India from becoming a major transit or consumption hub for illegal drugs.