NEW YORK: A U.S. federal court has sentenced Muhammad Asif Hafeez, a British national of Pakistani origin, to 16 years in prison for running a vast, international drug trafficking network that spanned over two decades. Known in underworld circles as “Sultan,” the 66-year-old was found guilty of conspiring to smuggle heroin, methamphetamine, and hashish into the United States and other countries.
Hafeez, once a familiar face among London’s elite polo and business circles, led a double life. While posing as a respectable businessman, he secretly directed one of the world’s most prolific narcotics operations, orchestrating multi-ton drug shipments from production centers in Pakistan and India to markets across Europe, the Middle East, East Africa, and North America.
Arrested in London on August 25, 2017, Hafeez fought extradition for years before being transferred to U.S. custody in 2023. In November, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import large volumes of drugs into the United States—including quantities of heroin capable of producing millions of lethal doses.
Prosecutors said Hafeez functioned as the “puppet master” of a far-reaching criminal enterprise, operating from his home in the UK while directing operations that leveraged corrupt officials, false identities, and a network of couriers and contacts across continents.
His sentencing on Friday in New York marks the culmination of a years-long international investigation. Factoring in time served since his 2017 arrest, Hafeez is expected to remain in prison until 2033.
A Double Life of Deception
U.S. authorities revealed that Hafeez cultivated a carefully managed public image to mask his criminal empire. While mingling with high society, he also positioned himself as an informant to law enforcement—offering intelligence on rival traffickers.
But investigators say this cooperation was strategically deceptive. Hafeez allegedly used law enforcement agencies to eliminate competition while shielding his own drug routes from scrutiny.
“While pretending to help authorities intercept drug shipments, he was actively flooding global markets with narcotics,” U.S. officials said. “He informed on his competitors to protect and expand his own empire.”
The case has been described as a major win for international anti-narcotics efforts, with authorities in the UK, U.S., Pakistan, and other countries cooperating closely to bring Hafeez to justice.
