New Delhi [India], March 22 (HBTV): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two more key operatives in the over 102 kg Attari drug seizure case in Punjab's Amritsar district the previous year, the agency said on Friday.  

The case involved the recovery and seizure of a total of over 102 kg of heroin, valued at approximately INR 700 crore, in April 2022. The drug was smuggled into the country concealed in a consignment of licorice roots. 

The two accused persons, identified as Deepak Khurana alias Deepu of Ferozepur in Punjab, and Avtar Singh alias Sunny of Jamia Nagar in South Delhi, were arrested on Thursday. 

With the fresh arrests, a total of five accused persons have been taken into custody in connection with the case so far. 

"Financial investigations and the examination of the associates of the accused have revealed that Deepak Khurana was not only a drug dealer and drug quality tester but also a handler of 'proceeds of drugs'. And Avtar was involved in the distribution of drugs, the handling of cash, and laundering the drug proceeds through banking and hawala channels," the NIA said in a statement.

Both the accused persons have been identified as long-term associates of the prime accused Razi Haider Zaidi, and Shahid Ahmed alias Qazi Abdul Wadood, the agency said.  

NIA investigations showed that Deepak and Avtar were key operatives in the larger conspiracy hatched by the international drug cartel for the supply of drugs to various distributors in India and the channeling of the proceeds of the drugs to the main foreign-based accused persons.  

As per the NIA, the drug seizures in the case were made on April 24 and the 26th, 2022 by the Indian Customs Department when the narcotics arrived in the country from Afghanistan via Integrated Check Post Attari in Punjab's Amritsar. The total value of the narcotics was estimated at approximately INR 700 crore. 

The NIA investigation further revealed that the consignment was sent to India for further distribution in various parts of the country. 

(ANI) This is a syndicated news feed. HBTV has edited it for clarity.