Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Who We Are
    • About
    • Mission
    • History
    • Divisions
      • Atlanta
        • Atlanta Leadership
        • Atlanta Contacts
      • Caribbean
        • Caribbean Leadership
        • Caribbean Contacts
      • Chicago
        • Chicago Leadership
        • Chicago Contacts
      • Dallas
        • Dallas Leadership
        • Dallas Contacts
      • Detroit
        • Detroit Leadership
        • Detroit Contacts
      • El Paso
        • El Paso Leadership
        • El Paso Contacts
      • Headquarters
      • Houston
        • Houston Leadership
        • Houston Contacts
      • Los Angeles
        • Los Angeles Leadership
        • Los Angeles Contacts
      • Louisville
        • Louisville Leadership
        • Louisville Contacts
      • Miami
        • Miami Leadership
        • Miami Contacts
      • New England
        • New England Leadership
        • New England Contacts
      • New Jersey
        • New Jersey Contacts
      • New Orleans
        • New Orleans Leadership
        • New Orleans Contacts
      • New York
        • New York Leadership
        • New York Contacts
      • Omaha
        • Omaha Leadership
        • Omaha Contacts
      • Philadelphia
        • Philadelphia Leadership
        • Philadelphia Contacts
      • Phoenix
        • Phoenix Leadership
        • Phoenix Contacts
      • Rocky Mountain
        • Rocky Mountain Contacts
      • San Diego
        • San Diego Leadership
        • San Diego Contacts
      • San Francisco
        • San Francisco Contacts
      • Seattle
        • Seattle Contacts
      • St. Louis
        • St. Louis Leadership
        • St. Louis Contacts
      • Washington, DC
        • Washington Leadership
        • Washington Contacts
    • DEA Museum
    • Foreign Offices
      • Africa
      • Andean
      • Caribbean
      • Europe
      • Far East
      • Middle East
      • North and Central America
      • Southern Cone
    • Operational Divisions
      • Aviation Division
      • Diversion Control Division
    • Wall of Honor
    • Contact Us
      • Submit a Tip
      • Extortion Scam
      • Public Affairs
      • Social Media Directory
  • What We Do
    • Law Enforcement
      • DEA Office of Training
        • Office of Training Programs
      • El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC)
        • Leadership
        • Mission
        • Services
        • Contacts
      • Forensic Sciences
        • Computer Forensics Program
        • Environmental Management
        • Laboratories
      • Intelligence
      • Operations
        • Administrative Law Judges
        • DEA Asset Forfeiture
        • Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program
        • HIDTA
        • OCDETF
        • State and Local Task Forces
    • Education and Prevention
      • DEA’s Family Summit
      • Operation Engage
      • Community Outreach
      • Red Ribbon
        • Kiki and the History of Red Ribbon Week
        • Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community
      • Just Think Twice
      • Campus Drug Prevention
      • Get Smart About Drugs
      • Operation Prevention
    • Drug Information
      • Drug Policy
      • Drug Scheduling
      • The Controlled Substances Act
    • News
      • Alerts
      • Press Releases
      • Most Wanted Fugitives
        • All Fugitives
      • Stories
      • Events
      • Speeches
      • Testimony
    • Campaigns
      • One Pill Can Kill
        • Partner Toolbox
        • Social Media Campaign
      • DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
  • Careers
    • Special Agent
      • Special Agent FAQs
      • Special Agent Job Announcements
    • Diversion Investigator
      • Diversion Investigator Job Announcement
    • Intelligence Research Specialist
      • Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements
      • Intelligence Research Specialists FAQs
      • Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist
    • Forensic Sciences Careers
    • Professional & Administrative Careers
    • Student & Entry Level Careers
    • How to Apply
      • Employment Requirements
      • Equal Opportunity Employer
      • How To Claim Veterans' Preference
      • Priority Consideration
      • Benefits
      • Veterans and People With Disabilities
  • Resources
    • Recovery Resources
    • Data and Statistics
      • Domestic Arrests
      • Staffing and Budget
    • FOIA
      • About FOIA
      • Contact DEA FOIA
      • Make a Request
      • What Happens After Making a Request
      • Requester Categories
      • Fees Charged
      • Fee Waiver
      • FOIA FAQ
      • FOIA Logs and Reports
      • FOIA Library
      • Additional FOIA Links
      • FOIA Exemptions
      • What Are Exclusions?
      • Privacy Act
      • Privacy Act Exemptions
      • Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems
    • Publications
    • Media Galleries
    • Victim Witness Assistance Program
      • Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources

United States Drug Enforcement Administration

  • Search
  • Full Menu

Main Menu

  • Who We Are
  • What We Do
  • Careers
  • Resources
  • Submit A Tip
  • Get Updates
  • Scam Alert
  • English
  • ES

PUBLIC SAFETY ALERT

DEA Reports Widespread Threat of Fentanyl Mixed with Xylazine - DEA Reports Widespread Threat of Fentanyl Mixed with Xylazine

Drug Enforcement Administration

Headquarters
@DEAHQ
February 07, 2019
Contact: Media Relations
Phone Number: (571) 776-2508
For Immediate Release

Manhattan U.S. Attorney announces extradition of OFAC- sanctioned Afghan man for Narco-Terrorism offenses

NEW YORK - Christopher Tersigni, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration Special Operations Division and Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York,  announced today the extradition of Haji Abdul Satar Abdul Manaf, aka “Haji Abdul Sattar Barakzai,” for attempting to import heroin into the United States, engaging in narco-terrorism for the benefit of the Taliban, and attempting to engage in narco-terrorism for the benefit of the Haqqani Network.  Manaf was taken into custody by Estonian authorities in Tallinn, Estonia, on Oct. 9, 2018, and extradited to the United States today.  Manaf will be presented in Manhattan federal court later today.  The case is assigned to United States District Judge Paul A. Crotty.

“This action highlights the DEA’s ability to hold accountable not only those who reside within our borders, but also those operating in other countries,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Tersigni. “Drug traffickers that bring harm to the citizens of this country must answer for their unlawful activities that have fueled the opioid epidemic.”

“As alleged, Manaf, already sanctioned by the Treasury Department for assisting the Taliban, attempted to import large quantities of heroin into the U.S., funneled heroin trafficking proceeds to the Taliban, and attempted to provide financial assistance to the Haqqani terrorist network,” said U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman.  “Thanks to the DEA and international law enforcement partners, Manaf is in the U.S. and facing justice in this District.”     

According to the allegations contained in the complaint and indictment which were unsealed today:

In June 2012, the United States Treasury Department sanctioned Manaf pursuant to the United States’ terrorism sanctions authority, Executive Order No. 13224, for storing or moving money for the Taliban through his money remitting business, the Haji Khairullah Haji Sattar Money Exchange.  

Beginning in January 2018, Manaf attempted to import large quantities of heroin into the United States; used the proceeds of heroin trafficking to benefit the Taliban; and attempted to provide financial support to the Haqqani Network.  Specifically, Manaf participated in in-person meetings, recorded telephone calls, and electronic communications with five men whom Manaf understood to be affiliated with an international drug trafficking organization.  During those meetings, Manaf helped arrange to import large quantities of heroin into the United States with the assistance of – and recognizing that some of the proceeds of that narcotics trafficking would be provided to – the Taliban and the Haqqani Network.  Four of these men were, in fact, DEA confidential sources.  The fifth was an undercover DEA agent (the “UC”).

The Haqqani Network and the Taliban have been and are engaged in highly public acts of terrorism against U.S. interests, including U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan.  In August 2018, Manaf sold the UC a 10-kilogram shipment of heroin in Afghanistan, after the UC told Manaf that the heroin would ultimately be imported into the United States for sale in New York.  Manaf repeatedly told the UC that Manaf had paid the Taliban in connection with the production of the 10 Kilo Shipment, and reported that armed members of the Taliban would guard and transport future heroin shipments for Manaf and the UC.  In August 2018, Manaf facilitated the transfer of thousands of dollars of what he believed to be narcotics proceeds to individuals Manaf had been advised were members of the Haqqani Network.  Manaf subsequently agreed to supply the UC with thousand-kilogram loads of heroin for importation into the United States.

The indictment charges Manaf, 53, a citizen of Afghanistan, in three counts: (1) attempting to import heroin into the United States, (2) narco-terrorism, and (3) attempted narco-terrorism.  If convicted, Manaf faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison on Count One, and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison on each of counts two and three.  The statutory minimum and maximum sentences are prescribed by congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative efforts of the DEA’s Special Operations Division’s Bilateral Investigations Unit; the DEA European Regional Director; the DEA Copenhagen, Canberra, Dubai, Islamabad, Kabul, New Delhi, and Sydney Country Offices; the Government of Estonia; and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.  The defendant’s arrest and subsequent extradition are also the result of the close cooperative efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebekah Donaleski and Kimberly J. Ravener are in charge of the prosecution.

The allegations contained in the complaint and the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 

                                                                        ###

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the texts of the Complaint and Indictment and the descriptions of the Complaint and Indictment set forth below constitute only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Heroin
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Locator

  • Who We Are
    • About
    • Domestic Divisions
    • Foreign Offices
    • Contact Us
    • DEA Museum
  • What We Do
    • Drug Prevention
    • Law Enforcement
    • Diversion Control Division
    • News
  • Careers
    • Overview
    • Special Agent
    • Diversion Investigator
    • Intelligence Research Specialist
  • Resources
    • Drug Information
    • Employee Assistance Program
    • Equal Opportunity Employer
    • FOIA
    • Publications
    • Media Galleries
    • VWAP
  • Doing Business
    with the DEA
    • Overview
    • Current Vendors
    • Prospective Vendors
    • Security Clauses
    • Security Forms
    • Small Business Program
  • Policies
    • Accessibility, Plug-ins & Policy
    • Legal Policies & Disclaimers
    • No FEAR Act
    • Privacy Policy
    • U.S. Department of Justice EEO Policy
    • USA.gov
    • Whistleblower Protection
Home

United States Drug Enforcement Administration

DEA.gov is an official site of the U.S. Department of Justice
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram

DEA Contact Center

(202) 307-1000 info@dea.gov
Contact the Webmaster