Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Afghan Leader's Brother Tied to Drug Trade: US

Karzai denies claims, but Washington believes 'he's dirty'

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 4, 2008 3:35 PM CDT
Email

(Newser) – The White House believes that the brother of Afghanistan’s US-backed president has ties to the country’s heroin trade, the New York Times reports. Hamid Karzai insists there is no firm proof against his brother, who calls himself a “victim of vicious politics.” But numerous reports from Washington and Kabul link Ahmed Wali Karzai to traffickers, insiders say.

“It’s no secret about Wali Karzai and drugs,” says an Afghan informant who was jailed after squealing about a drug delivery involving Karzai’s bodyguard. Washington has adopted a hands-off approach to the matter, which isn’t all that surprising in Afghanistan, supplier of 95% of the world’s heroin. Says a former US official: “Narco-corruption went to the top of the Afghan government.”

A Taliban militant is seen with an AK- 47 rifle gun as farmers collect resin from poppies in an opium poppy field in Afghanistan, which provides about 95% of the world's heroin supply.
A Taliban militant is seen with an AK- 47 rifle gun as farmers collect resin from poppies in an opium poppy field in Afghanistan, which provides about 95% of the world's heroin supply.   (AP Photo, File)
President Bush sits with and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, whose brother, the White House believes, has links to the country's heroin trade.
President Bush sits with and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, whose brother, the White House believes, has links to the country's heroin trade.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has denied allegations that his brother is a drug dealer, arguing that there is no firm proof.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has denied allegations that his brother is a drug dealer, arguing that there is no firm proof.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

Taliban rejects peace talks with 'puppet' Karzai
CBC (Canada)

Afghan governor calls for crop replacement
New York Times

 
Afghanistan • Bush administration • Taliban • drugs • White House • heroin • Hamid Karzai • counternarcotics • Afghanistan corruption

More Newser Stories

UK Wants to Talk to Taliban

US Targets Afghan Opium Crop

Karzai, White House Mend Fences; Visit On

UN Crackdown on Heroin Is Bleeding Taliban Dry

Afghan Cops Blow Up Huge Hashish Stash
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne