US designates Taliban Helmand chief as drug trafficker, imposes sanctions
Treasury Department places sanctions on Mullah Barich, freezing any assets within US' jurisdiction.
WASHINGTON:
The US Department of Treasury has announced sanctions against Mullah Naim Barich, a senior Taliban leader and a major narcotics trafficker.
According to a statement by the Department of Treasury, Mullah Barich was described as the “Shadow Governor” of Helmand, the largest opium producing district in Afghanistan.
The statement added that Barich was already on the UN Security Council Resolutions 1988 Sanctions List for supporting the Taliban and the Treasury’s sanctions on Barich will now prohibit any US citizen from conducting financial or commercial transactions with him, while freezing any assets he may have that fall under the US’ jurisdiction.
Highlighting Barich’s dealings, the statement said that Barich was involved in various levels of heroin and opium drug trade.
“Barich convened a meeting to discuss narcotics production and delivery to Pakistan and Iran. The meeting was held in a compound in Girdi Jangle, Pakistan, and attended by a number of prominent narcotics producers and smugglers.
“Further, a consignment of processed white heroin, owned by Barich, was sent from a narcotics trafficker’s compound in Girdi Jangle, Pakistan, to Salawan, Iran, and then on to the Turkish border for further distribution.”
The statement further said that in March 2012, Barich wrote to Taliban commanders on what steps to take to protect the poppy harvest from the government-led eradication operations.
“Barich has said the funds from the poppy harvest will permit the Taliban to survive, and therefore, it must be protected at all costs.”
The US Department of Treasury has announced sanctions against Mullah Naim Barich, a senior Taliban leader and a major narcotics trafficker.
According to a statement by the Department of Treasury, Mullah Barich was described as the “Shadow Governor” of Helmand, the largest opium producing district in Afghanistan.
The statement added that Barich was already on the UN Security Council Resolutions 1988 Sanctions List for supporting the Taliban and the Treasury’s sanctions on Barich will now prohibit any US citizen from conducting financial or commercial transactions with him, while freezing any assets he may have that fall under the US’ jurisdiction.
Highlighting Barich’s dealings, the statement said that Barich was involved in various levels of heroin and opium drug trade.
“Barich convened a meeting to discuss narcotics production and delivery to Pakistan and Iran. The meeting was held in a compound in Girdi Jangle, Pakistan, and attended by a number of prominent narcotics producers and smugglers.
“Further, a consignment of processed white heroin, owned by Barich, was sent from a narcotics trafficker’s compound in Girdi Jangle, Pakistan, to Salawan, Iran, and then on to the Turkish border for further distribution.”
The statement further said that in March 2012, Barich wrote to Taliban commanders on what steps to take to protect the poppy harvest from the government-led eradication operations.
“Barich has said the funds from the poppy harvest will permit the Taliban to survive, and therefore, it must be protected at all costs.”