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Taliban-funding Afghan drug lord jailed for life in US | Taliban-funding Afghan drug lord jailed for life in US |
(about 11 hours later) | |
An Afghan man found guilty of funding the Taliban via one of the world's biggest heroin-trafficking rings has been sentenced to life in prison. | An Afghan man found guilty of funding the Taliban via one of the world's biggest heroin-trafficking rings has been sentenced to life in prison. |
Haji Bagcho, 70, denied making heroin along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and sending it to over 20 countries. | Haji Bagcho, 70, denied making heroin along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and sending it to over 20 countries. |
His lawyers pointed to Bagcho's poor health and asked for leniency in the sentencing. | His lawyers pointed to Bagcho's poor health and asked for leniency in the sentencing. |
But the US judge said Bagcho channelled an "astronomical" amount of drugs and the maximum sentence was appropriate. | |
He must also forfeit more than $250,000,000 (£160,000,000) in drug money and his property in Afghanistan. | He must also forfeit more than $250,000,000 (£160,000,000) in drug money and his property in Afghanistan. |
"Haji Bagcho led a massive drug production and trafficking operation that supplied heroin in more than 20 countries, including the United States," Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer said. | "Haji Bagcho led a massive drug production and trafficking operation that supplied heroin in more than 20 countries, including the United States," Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer said. |
"In 2006 alone, he conducted heroin transactions worth more than $250 million. Bagcho used the profits of his narcotics trafficking operation to support high-level Taliban commanders in Afghanistan. Today's life sentence is an appropriate punishment for one of the most notorious heroin-traffickers in the world." | "In 2006 alone, he conducted heroin transactions worth more than $250 million. Bagcho used the profits of his narcotics trafficking operation to support high-level Taliban commanders in Afghanistan. Today's life sentence is an appropriate punishment for one of the most notorious heroin-traffickers in the world." |
Bagcho had been brought to the US in 2009. He was convicted on 13 March 2012 after a three-week trial on charges of conspiracy and distribution of heroin for illegal import into the US; and narco-terrorism. | Bagcho had been brought to the US in 2009. He was convicted on 13 March 2012 after a three-week trial on charges of conspiracy and distribution of heroin for illegal import into the US; and narco-terrorism. |
He is the second person to be convicted under the narco-terrorism statute, which makes it a crime to use money from the sale of drugs to finance terrorist activities. | He is the second person to be convicted under the narco-terrorism statute, which makes it a crime to use money from the sale of drugs to finance terrorist activities. |
Bagcho had faced an earlier trial but the jury could not unanimously agree on a verdict. | Bagcho had faced an earlier trial but the jury could not unanimously agree on a verdict. |
The US Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating Bagcho in 2004, and worked with his assistant and an undercover Afghan policeman to gather information. | The US Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating Bagcho in 2004, and worked with his assistant and an undercover Afghan policeman to gather information. |
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