UP ATS arrests two members of international drug trafficking ring from West Bengal

The UP Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Tuesday arrested two key accused of an international human trafficking syndicate, involved in facilitating illegal infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas from North 24 Parganas in West Bengal, senior ATS officials said here in Lucknow.

Officials said the two accused were brought to Lucknow after obtaining judicial remand from a local court to further question the duo and explore their widespread nexus in the country.

In a press note shared with the media, a senior ATS official confirmed that the two accused identified as Abdullah Gazi (50) and Vikram Rai (23) are both residents of North 24 Parganas. He said that Gazi runs two businesses named Gazi Food Supply and Gazi

Freemasonry used its accounts to help the racket leader Abu Saleh, the principal of Kabir Bagh Millat Academy and Madrasa Haroa-al Jamiatul Islamia Darul Uloom, receive funds from abroad for illegal infiltration and help illegal immigrants settle in different parts of the country.

“In the FCRA accounts of these trusts, a huge sum of funding totaling approximately ₹“58 crores was received from outside (Umma Welfare Trust, UK) between 2018 and 2022,” the official said in the statement and added, “so far, as many as 11 people, including the racket's leader Abu Saleh, have been arrested since October 11, 2023.

The official explained that a large portion of the foreign funds received were in the form of cash, by making fake invoices to his team members. “Apart from this, invoices were also made by creating fake companies called Ghazi Foods Supply and Ghazi Masonries.

“Furthermore, money was also received in the form of cash through Hawala. The money received was used to illegally infiltrate Rohingyas and Bangladeshis into India through their syndicate, and to provide financial assistance to Rohingyas and Bangladeshis living illegally in India, to make fake Indian documents and to send this money back to India through Hawala,” he added.

He said the lid of the racket was blown after the arrest of the three accused, Adil-ur-Rehman Ashrafi, Abu Huraira Gazi, Sheikh Najibul Haq, all residents of West Bengal, by UP ATS on October 11, 2023. He said the kingpin Abu Saleh, a resident of West Bengal, was arrested on October 11, 2023.

Bengal, who was arrested on January 8 earlier this year, received foreign funding from ₹He was arrested from Manak Nagar area of ​​Lucknow based on information obtained through technical surveillance and field data.

According to the UP ATS, they have received information about a syndicate formed by some persons who are hiding their identity and installing illegal infiltrators in India with fake Indian documents and providing them financial support and promoting anti-national activities. “Based on this information, cases under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, Section 14 of the Foreigners Act, 1946 and Sections 12(1), 12(2) of the Passport Act, 1967 have been registered,” the press release added.