A new fix: Militant outfits turn to drug money to stay afloat

Intelligence report reveals militants ‘tax’ narcotics, smuggling to remain functional .

PESHAWAR:

Apart from extortion and kidnappings for ransom, the greatest source of income for militant groups based in Khyber Agency, Peshawar and Frontier Region (FR) Peshawar is the ‘taxation’ of narcotics, states a confidential report prepared by law-enforcement agencies.

The document, put together with the help of intelligence reports, shows that militant outfits are involved in organised crimes, including kidnappings for ransom, extortion, as well imposition of ‘taxes’ on narcotics and smuggling.

“International efforts to curb militants’ access to foreign funds have forced such organisations to rely on criminal activities to cover their expenses,” the report states.

It identifies three militant groups working in and around Peshawar: Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) in Bara, Khyber Agency; Tariq Mazeed Khel or Tariq Afridi group based in FR Peshawar and Darra Adam Khel in FR Kohat; and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s Mohmand chapter based in Mohmand Agency and Kunar province of Afghanistan.

According to the report, LI is indirectly involved in the sale and purchase of narcotics and organises a hashish fair in Orakzai Agency three times a week.

Similarly, drug transporters are taxed by banned outfits in areas under their control.

LI charges Rs1,330 on a kilogramme (kg) of hashish as ‘tax’, while another militant group, Amar Bil Maroof, popularly known as Namdar group, charges Rs100 per kg, the report states.

However, it maintains there is no evidence of these banned outfits being directly involved in the narcotics trade.

The business of addiction

Hashish is produced on a large scale in Tirah Valley and in the recent past it remained the biggest source of income for the militant group Ansarul Islam (AI). The fighters and equipment procured from money earned from the sale of hashish enabled AI to combat LI for years and keep it at a safe distance from the fertile valley.

Interestingly, when hashish from Tirah was transported to Bara and Karkhano market for sale, it was ‘taxed’ again by LI.

Tirah is home to the world’s finest hashish which made the valley desirable for both outfits.

It is also openly known that militants impose ‘taxes’ on cattle heads being smuggled to Afghanistan from Pakistan as well as smuggled goods crossing the Afghan border into Pakistan.

An elder from Khyber Agency complained the region is becoming increasingly difficult to live in for the locals. However, for those involved in smuggling – both authorities and militants – there are no problems.

“Smuggling is the largest source of income for not only authorities but militants as well, which is why there are no disruptions in the supply of smuggled items. The vehicles carrying goods are heavily guarded,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2014.