Action Further Exposes Senior Taliban
Leadership Involvement in Narcotics Trade
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the
Treasury today announced the designation of a senior leader of the Taliban,
Mullah Naim Barich, pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act
(Kingpin Act). Barich is the “Shadow Governor” of Helmand province, the largest
opium producing province in Afghanistan. Barich appears on the United Nations
Security Council Resolution 1988 Sanctions List due to his support for the
Taliban. Today’s action prohibits U.S. persons from conducting financial or
commercial transactions with Barich and also freezes any assets he may have
under U.S. jurisdiction.
“Today’s
action exposes the direct involvement of senior Taliban leadership in the
production, manufacturing, and trafficking of narcotics in Afghanistan and
underlines the Taliban’s reliance on the drug trade to finance their acts of
terror and violence,” said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial
Intelligence David S. Cohen. “Treasury will continue exposing links between the
international narcotics trade and terrorist networks, in Afghanistan, and
wherever else they exist.”
Treasury is designating
Barich for the significant role he plays in international narcotics
trafficking, particularly in Helmand province, Afghanistan. In January 2012,
the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) Deputy Governor
for Helmand province announced plans for government-led eradication of poppy,
which is used to make heroin and opium. In early March 2012, Barich, the
Taliban “Shadow Governor” of Helmand province, issued a written decree to
subordinate Taliban commanders, detailing procedures to be adopted by Taliban
in Helmand province to combat planned government-led eradication operations.
This decree stated that all measures, including planting improvised explosive
devices (IEDs), engaging in combat with coalition forces, or bribing GIRoA officials,
were to be taken to protect the poppy harvest. Barich has said the funds from
the poppy harvest will permit the Taliban to survive, and therefore, it must be
protected at all costs.
Barich is
involved in many levels of the heroin and opium drug trade, including leading
meetings with drug traffickers, controlling opium production, and owning his
own drug loads. For example, 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. On another occasion, Barich met with a number of
personnel to discuss preparations for the opium production forecasted for 2012.
He met with several others, ordering them to prepare for the upcoming poppy
season purchases and transportation. 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.
Internationally,
Treasury has designated more than 1,200 businesses and individuals linked to 97
drug kingpins since June 2000. Penalties for violations of the Kingpin
Act range from civil penalties of up to $1.075 million per violation to more
severe criminal penalties. Criminal penalties for corporate officers may
include up to 30 years in prison and fines up to $5 million. Criminal fines for
corporations may reach $10 million. Other individuals could face up to 10
years in prison and fines pursuant to Title 18 of the United States Code for
criminal violations of the Kingpin Act.
To view a chart of the
Barich organization.