“Afghan heroin king nabbed entering U.S.,” from UPI:
Drug Enforcement Administration agents reportedly arrested Bashir Noorzai, an Afghan national, Saturday as he tried to enter the United States. Noorzai made an initial appearance in a federal court in New York Monday, but did not enter a plea, and will appear again Wednesday.
Noorzai was charged with conspiring to import more than $50 million worth of heroin into the United States and other countries. If convicted, he faces a minimum prison sentence of 10 years, with the possibility of a life term.
U.S. Attorney David Kelley said Noorzai provided weapons and troops to Afghanistan’s former Taliban regime in exchange for protection, the Australian Web site SBS reported Monday. Noorzai allegedly has led an international trafficking ring based in Afghanistan and Pakistan.