Pakistani National Sentenced to 16 Years in US Drug Trafficking Case

A US federal judge has condemned Muhammad Asif Hafeez, a Pakistani citizen previously known as the “Sultan of Drugs,” to 16 years behind bars. This sentencing on two counts of drug trafficking marks the end of a prominent international legal battle that has spanned nearly a decade.

Judge Victor Marrero presided over the sentencing at the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, concluding the legal proceedings that commenced with Hafeez’s apprehension in London in August 2017 at his residence. He was extradited to the US approximately three years later.

Hafeez, accompanied by his lawyer Steve Zissou and an Urdu interpreter, received a 192-month (16-year) sentence for each of the two charges, to be served simultaneously, followed by five years of supervised release.

The court clarified that Hafeez’s imprisonment would be calculated retroactively from his initial arrest date, August 25, 2017, indicating he has already been in custody for almost eight years. Hafeez, 66, has been detained since 2017, and his sentence is slated to conclude in 2033.

US Attorney Jane Chong, representing the prosecution, advocated for a sentence that mirrored the scope and international character of Hafeez’s drug trafficking activities. The defense sought leniency, emphasizing Hafeez’s age, well-being, and the significant time he had already spent in detention in both the UK and the US.

The court considered both arguments before delivering the sentence, confirming that the remaining charges were dropped following a motion from the prosecution.

In addition to the jail term, the court mandated the forfeiture of assets connected to Hafeez’s purported drug trafficking earnings. While the exact amount wasn’t revealed during the session, the judge affirmed that the government would present a proposed order specifying the forfeiture amount and waived interest on the sum.

Despite Hafeez’s Pakistani citizenship, there was no involvement from Islamabad. His legal team indicated this lack of engagement was a significant disappointment. His family tried their best for the Pakistani government to get involved but the govt offered no help.

Hafeez’s sentencing occurred shortly after the same judge determined that the US government had not violated its plea agreement with the former Pakistani gold trader involved in the drugs matter, which also implicated four others, including Bollywood actress Mamta Kulkarni’s spouse, Vicky Goswami.

Hafeez had submitted a request to the New York Southern District court, asserting that the US government was contravening the terms of the plea agreement. He argued that he should receive a sentence of only around 10 years and that the government’s proposal of at least 276 months’ imprisonment (approximately 23 years) would constitute a breach, urging the court to rule against the government.

Judge Victor Marrero decreed that the Court discovered that the Government did not breach the Plea Agreement and instructed the Defendant to adhere to the Plea Agreement’s stipulated offense level and sentencing range under the US Sentencing Guidelines and advocating for a sentence of at least 276 months imprisonment for Hafeez would be proportionate to the offense level and category.

On November 18, 2024, Hafeez admitted guilt to conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and unlawfully import heroin into the United States, along with conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and unlawfully import methamphetamine and marijuana into the United States.

His attorneys stated that he had no alternative but to plead guilty under the stringent US conditions. According to the accusations detailed in the indictments against Hafeez, he conspired with his co-defendants, Baktash Akasha Abdalla, Ibrahim Akasha Abdalla, Gulam Hussein, and Vijaygiri Anandgiri Goswami also known as Vicky Goswami from 2013 through his arrest date in London in 2017 to import heroin into the US.