India is pursuing the extradition of two wanted men from Turkey, weeks after securing the return of an alleged drug trafficker linked to Dawood Ibrahim.
New Delhi and Ankara are working on the transfer of Navpreet Singh, 34, from Punjab and Mohammad Sartaj, 42, from Madhya Pradesh. Navpreet faces multiple narcotics cases while Sartaj is wanted in matters involving threats and violence. The extradition requests were submitted in 2023-24 and last year respectively.
The moves follow the April 28 extradition of Salim Dola, 59, an alleged associate of Dawood Ibrahim, from Turkey. Earlier this month, Prabhdeep Singh was returned from Azerbaijan on May 13 in connection with a 2021 seizure of 358 kg of heroin. Prabhdeep is accused of running India operations for Navpreet’s syndicate.
India and Turkey maintain an extradition treaty signed in 2001 and effective since June 2002. Officials note continued law enforcement cooperation despite regional tensions.
