In a major diplomatic and law enforcement breakthrough, Indian security agencies have secured the deportation of wanted narco-trafficking kingpin Navpreet Singh from Turkey. The accused, who was operating from foreign soil using a fake identity and passport, has landed in India and was immediately taken into custody.
Confirming the development, Union Home Minister Amit Shah termed the successful deportation a “historic milestone” in the crackdown against international drug cartels.
“Today he has been brought back to India and put behind bars in connection with cases involving drug trafficking and other crimes he is accused of. Operating behind this cover, he allegedly orchestrated massive cross-border smuggling rings, routing consignments of heroin and synthetic drugs like methamphetamine from Afghanistan directly into India. The extradition forms part of a wider enforcement campaign targeted at criminal networks operating from overseas bases. These changes expanded the scope of law enforcement to pursue individual operatives, handlers, and overseas funding conduits.
Government data shows that between 2019 and August 2026, India has successfully brought back 288 fugitives from 36 countries. The accelerated pace of extraditions follows key legal and structural overhauls, including the 2019 amendments to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Navpreet Singh had managed to obtain Turkish citizenship under the fake name Navab Virk, according to investigative agencies. “Our agencies tracked him down, ripping apart veil after veil to unmask his true identity, and secured his deportation,” Home Minister Amit Shah posted on X.
