The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted searches on Tuesday at over a dozen locations in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi-NCR to dismantle and disrupt the emerging nexus between terrorists, gangsters, and drug smugglers/traffickers based in India and abroad.

A few of the most desperate gang leaders and their associates in India and in foreign countries, who are spearheading and carrying out such terror and criminal activities, were identified, sources told CNN-News18.

The third round of raids and searches is part of the NIA crackdown on top gangsters, their criminal and business associates based in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, and arms suppliers based in Rajasthan and Delhi following the launch of investigations by the agency against such organised criminal syndicates and networks.

In its ongoing efforts to dismantle these trans-national terror and crime networks, NIA conducted searches at 13 locations in Fazilka, Tarn Taran, Ludhiana, Sangrur, and Mohali districts of Punjab, Yamuna Nagar district of Haryana, Sikar district of Rajasthan, Chandigarh, and Outer North district of Delhi-NCR