On the exterior, Muhammed Asif Hafeez appeared to be a paragon of respectability. A prominent businessman and representative of a distinguished polo club in London, he mingled with the British upper crust, including royals.
He claimed to assist law enforcement in the UK and the Middle East by providing crucial details that resulted in the apprehension of substantial drug shipments, positioning himself as morally driven to tackle crime. However, this image was far from reality.
In truth, Hafeez was labeled by US authorities as one of the most notorious drug traffickers globally. Operating from the UK, he orchestrated a colossal drug network distributing vast quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, and hashish from Pakistan and India, often targeting rival gangs.
His formidable reputation in the criminal sphere earned him the title of “the Sultan,” yet his reign inevitably ended. Following a coordinated effort by British and American law enforcement, Hafeez, now 66, was extradited in 2023, later pleading guilty.
Recently sentenced to 16 years in a New York prison for conspiring to smuggle drugs—including enough heroin for millions of doses—Hafeez’s custody since 2017 means he will serve until 2033.
Born into a middle-class family in Lahore in 1958, Hafeez claimed to have trained as a pilot and ran a seemingly legitimate business dealing predominantly in military equipment while also managing restaurants and equestrian services. Yet, former associates unearthed suspicious activity, illustrating that behind the facade, crime lurked beneath.
Source: www.bbc.com
