Afghan convicted in US for heroin trade, aiding Taliban

Haji Bagcho faces a minimum of 20 years in prison and as long as a life sentence.

WASHINGTON: An Afghan national accused of drug trafficking and using the proceeds to support the Taliban has been convicted of conspiracy, distribution of heroin and narcoterrorism, the Justice Department said Tuesday.

Haji Bagcho, of Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for over five years for narcotics offenses, the Justice Department said.

Bagcho, who was brought to the United States in 2009 to stand trial, trafficked heroin to more than 20 countries including the United States, and was among the world's leading traffickers of the drug by volume, it said.

"The investigation revealed that Bagcho was one of the largest heroin traffickers in the world and manufactured the drug in clandestine laboratories along Afghanistan's border region with Pakistan," a department statement said.

"Proceeds from his heroin trafficking were then used to support high-level members of the Taliban to further their insurgency in Afghanistan," it added.

The suspect "used a portion of his drug proceeds to provide the former Taliban governor of Nangarhar Province and two Taliban commanders responsible for insurgent activity in eastern Afghanistan with cash, weapons and other supplies so that they could continue their 'jihad' against western troops and the Afghan government," it added.

A grand jury returned an indictment against Bagcho in 2006 for heroin trafficking for import to the United States. In 2010 a superseding indictment added charges of conspiracy related to heroin traffkicking, and engaging in drug trafficking to financially support a terror group.

He faces a minimum of 20 years in prison and as long as a life sentence. His sentencing is set for June 12.