Taliban man convicted in U.S. for "narco-terrorism"
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A member of an Afghan Taliban cell was convicted by a federal jury on Thursday on charges of narco-terrorism and narcotics distribution, the U.S. Justice Department said in a statement.
Khan Mohammed, from Nangarhar Province of Afghanistan, is the first person to be convicted under a narco-terrorism provision of the USA Patriot Act that went into effect in March 2006, the statement said.
U.S. officials said Mohammed was caught in an investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration with the help of a cooperating witness.
"As an enemy of the United States, Khan Mohammed intended to ship heroin to the United States and use profits from the trade to assist the Taliban," DEA administrator Michele Leonhart said. "A dangerous double threat, Kahn Mohammed purchased rockets to attack American and coalition soldiers," she added.
He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and a maximum of life in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 10.
Mohammed was first indicted in December 2006 on narcotics distribution charges and was brought to the United States in November 2007.
A second indictment in January 2008 charged him with engaging in drug trafficking to fund a terrorist organization.
(Writing by JoAnne Allen, editing by Mohammad Zargham)
