NIA unveils web of illegal arms trade, raids 17 locations across four states

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday conducted extensive searches at 17 locations across four states—Bihar, Nagaland, Haryana, and Jammu & Kashmir—as part of its probe into an inter-state arms trafficking network.

The raids targeted the premises of 15 suspects linked to an ongoing case. Bihar saw the most action with 12 locations searched, followed by three in Nagaland, and one each in Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir. These suspects are reportedly associated with four individuals already arrested and charge-sheeted in the case.

During the operation, authorities seized several items, including:

A .315 rifle, 11 live rounds, and three empty cartridges.
Digital devices such as mobile phones, memory cards, and pen drives.
Raw materials and tools suspected to be used in firearm manufacturing.
A car and ₹13.94 lakh in cash.
Other incriminating documents linked to the case.
The NIA has intensified efforts to dismantle illegal arms networks that pose significant threats to national security. Officials stated that the recovered items are expected to yield critical leads in the investigation, which has already uncovered a complex network involved in the manufacturing and smuggling of firearms across multiple states.

“This operation is a significant step in our mission to curb the illegal arms trade and ensure national security,” an NIA spokesperson said.