Narco-Trafficking Kingpin Navpreet Singh Deported From Türkiye, Brought Back to India

New Delhi, October 3, 2026: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday congratulated Indian agencies for securing the deportation of alleged narco-trafficking kingpin Navpreet Singh from Türkiye and bringing him back to India.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Singh had obtained Turkish citizenship using the alleged fake identity of Navab Virk and was involved in smuggling heroin and methamphetamine to India from Afghanistan. He has now been brought back to India and taken into custody in connection with cases related to drug trafficking and other alleged crimes.

Shah said the successful deportation marked a significant achievement for Indian law enforcement agencies. He credited the agencies with tracking Singh and establishing his identity before securing his deportation from Türkiye.

In a statement posted on social media, Shah said the government remained committed to dismantling narco-cartels and set a target of eliminating such networks by December 2029.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said the government has been pursuing a coordinated campaign to bring fugitives back to India. According to official figures, 288 fugitives from 36 countries have been brought back to India between 2019 and August 2026.

The government said its strategy for dealing with fugitives focuses on international outreach, coordination among law enforcement agencies and diplomatic engagement. It said efforts to track and bring back fugitives were strengthened after amendments to the National Investigation Agency Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in 2019.

The Centre also highlighted the role of BHARATPOL, launched by Shah in January 2025, in improving coordination and information-sharing between Indian law enforcement agencies and international counterparts.

The portal integrates the Central Bureau of Investigation, State Police Headquarters through Interpol Liaison Officers and District Police Headquarters on a common platform. More than 1,400 units of central and state agencies have reportedly been connected through the system.

The government said information-sharing through the platform has helped reduce response times, with requests from the CBI generally being addressed within 10 to 20 days and, in some cases, within three to 10 days.

The Centre also said enforcement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act had resulted in the attachment of assets worth Rs 17,874 crore belonging to fugitive criminals between 2019 and 2026.

It further stated that 401 Red Corner Notices had been issued against fugitive criminals over the past three years, including 182 notices issued up to July 2026.