Report: Drugs-for-arms deal involving terrorists dismantled
The Associated Press
A plot to supply four Stinger anti-aircraft missiles to the al-Qaida terrorist network in exchange for a large amount of heroin and hashish was reportedly uncovered by FBI agents who posed as drug lords.
The agents completed the deal in Hong Kong where two Pakistanis and an Indian-born U.S. citizen are in custody awaiting extradition to San Diego, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Wednesday. The men face charges of drug smuggling and providing resources to terror groups.
An indictment is scheduled to be unsealed in San Diego on Wednesday and a news conference is planned in Washington, D.C., with Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller.
Hong Kong authorities have identified the men as Syed Mustajab Shah and Muhammed Abid Afridi, both of Pakistan, and naturalized U.S. citizen Ilyas Ali. They were arrested by Hong Kong police Sept. 20 in cooperation with the FBI.
The men are accused of seeking to sell or trade a half-ton of heroin and five tons of hashish for four anti-aircraft missiles. They appeared in court Tuesday and opposed extradition to San Diego.
Hong Kong, a former British colony, has an extradition agreement with the United States.
The case was adjourned until Nov. 15 to allow time for authorities to await the formal extradition request and supporting documents from the United States, the statement said.
"Based on remarks made to the FBI agents, it is believed that the defendants intended to deliver the Stinger missile systems to a designated foreign terrorist organization, namely the al-Qaida," the Hong Kong Justice Department said in a statement.
At least one of the men lived in San Diego. The men are not believed to have direct connections to any of the Sept. 11 hijackers, sources told the newspaper.
U.S. officials have suspected that drugs have supported terrorist activity. At least 75 percent of the world's heroin come from the poppy fields of Afghanistan.
The Stinger is an American-made, shoulder-launched guided missile designed for attacking aircraft at low altitude, possibly during takeoff or landing.
Last modified: November 06. 2002 10:35AM
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