New Delhi, April 18 (NationPress) The recent apprehension of alleged organized crime figure Daniel Kinahan in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) may affect the financial channels associated with Khalistan

Officials have consistently asserted that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has sought to exploit global drug syndicates to funnel funds into activities tied to the Khalistan movement. While it is believed that a considerable portion of the funds from the Dawood Ibrahim syndicate is routed to the ISI, only a minor segment is thought to be related to Khalistan endeavors.

Indian intelligence agencies are closely observing the alleged connections between Khalistani factions and international drug cartels, particularly in light of Kinahan's arrest in the UAE.

Kinahan has been detained concerning allegations of organized crime and has been identified by the High Court in Dublin as the leader of a drug cartel.

Investigators are also re-evaluating the case of Opinder Singh, an Indo-Canadian gangster apprehended by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for purportedly running a global methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking network.

Singh, known by the alias Thanos, had ties to the Brothers Keepers gang, a criminal organization based in British Columbia comprising several members of Punjab descent. The group has been implicated in extensive narcotics trafficking, arms smuggling, murder, robbery, and extortion.

This gang has also publicly endorsed the Khalistan movement and has taken part in events honoring Talwinder Singh Parmar, who is accused of orchestrating the 1985 Air India Flight 182 bombing that resulted in the deaths of 329 individuals.

An official remarked that Kinahan's arrest is crucial not only for dismantling international narcotics syndicates but also for examining alleged connections with individuals affiliated with Khalistani networks engaged in transnational crime.

The DEA had previously indicated that Singh's network reached operatives in Turkey and Dubai and had ties to the Kinahan crime group, which has also been reported to have associations with Hezbollah.

An Intelligence Bureau official stated that Singh is not regarded as a Khalistan ideologue but is part of criminal networks functioning within overlapping ecosystems.

According to officials, such networks are not isolated; they are integrated into broader social and criminal systems that facilitate financial and logistical connections.

Moreover, these structures offer layers of deniability while promoting coordination among various actors.

Singh had claimed connections to Kinahan, a detail that corroborates investigations by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which has been exploring cases suggesting coordination between gangster networks and Khalistani factions.

Officials noted that while groups linked to Khalistan continue to promote their agenda, criminal networks are suspected of enabling funding through international drug trafficking.

Indian authorities have highlighted organizations like the Brothers Keepers, indicating that these may act as fronts for larger networks involved in such activities.

Such groups are believed to maintain ties with international drug cartels, including those connected to Kinahan, to advance narcotics trade and generate revenue.

Officials further stated that these operations often disguise themselves under the cover of social or community platforms, creating a smokescreen for illicit activities.

Many Khalistan-linked groups are thought to be operating from Canada, and officials mentioned that recent improvements in India-Canada relations have led to enhanced intelligence-sharing mechanisms.

Both nations are now exchanging real-time intelligence to tackle these issues and have expressed a commitment to curbing such activities.

The US government imposed sanctions on Kinahan in April 2022 after he and his family were identified as leaders of the Kinahan organized crime network.

For India, officials indicated that the developments surrounding Kinahan's arrest are pivotal, and any disruption to his network could significantly affect financial channels tied to these activities.