A court in New York has sentenced an Afghan man named Abdul Satar Barakzi,59, to 30 years in prison for heroin trafficking.
The U.S. Department of Justice stated that Abdul Satar Barakzi used heroin trafficking as a form of “warfare” and had organized a kidnapping plot.
According to the announcement, Barakzi was linked to an international drug trafficking ring and attempted to smuggle heroin into the U.S. through this network.
His connections to drug trafficking organizations were uncovered in 2018, and he was first arrested in Estonia in 2019 before being extradited to the U.S.
Officials from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said that Barakzi was identified through an undercover agent who had befriended him as part of the drug trafficking network.
The DEA officials also stated that in a call from prison, Barakzi had instructed his family members to abduct witnesses in his case to prevent them from testifying.
The U.S. Department of Justice further stated that Barakzi had used drug trafficking “for the benefit of the Taliban.”
The report also stated that Barakzi “provided thousands of dollars to the Taliban to support their activities in Afghanistan and their war against coalition forces.” The U.S. Department of Justice described the Haqqani Network as “one of the most violent groups within the Taliban” and accused Barakzi of financing the network.
Barakzi’s conviction highlights the ongoing threat posed by the nexus between drug trafficking and terrorism, particularly in regions where militant groups benefit from illegal activities. This case exemplifies the international efforts needed to combat both organized crime and terrorism on a global scale.
The cooperation between U.S. law enforcement agencies and international counterparts is crucial in dismantling such networks. As more countries enforce strict anti-drug laws, the hope is that such cases will serve as a deterrent for others involved in similar illicit activities.
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