The US Department of Justice has confirmed that Abdul Zahir Qadeer, also known as Haji Abdul Zahir or Zaher Qadir, a former senior Afghan lawmaker and First Deputy Speaker of Afghanistan’s House of Representatives, will remain detained until the conclusion of his federal trial in the United States.
Kabul 24: Qadeer, 52, was extradited from Kenya to the United States and appeared in a federal court in Manhattan, New York, on Friday, July 10, 2026. A judge ordered him to stay in custody pending further proceedings. He was arrested in Nairobi on April 15, 2025, and formally handed over to US authorities earlier this week following months of legal proceedings in Kenya.
According to the US Department of Justice, Qadeer faces serious charges including conspiracy to import hundreds of kilograms of heroin and methamphetamine into the United States, along with related firearms offenses.
He is accused of operating as a large-scale international narcotics and weapons trafficker while presenting himself as a legitimate political leader. The criminal complaint alleges that he discussed drug shipments with a confidential source cooperating with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Prior to the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, Qadeer served as a general in the Afghan Border Force and held a prominent position as First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.
He was known as a powerful political and military figure but had long faced accusations of involvement in drug smuggling, running private militias, and land grabbing during the Republic era.
US officials have described the case as a significant blow to transnational criminal networks. Acting US Attorney statements emphasized that Qadeer allegedly led a criminal enterprise dealing in dangerous narcotics and military-grade weaponry, including machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, while holding public office.
The extradition resulted from close cooperation between US law enforcement, Kenyan authorities, the DEA, FBI, and Interpol.
If convicted on the drug importation conspiracy charges, Qadeer faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, with the possibility of life imprisonment depending on the full scope of evidence.
The unsealed complaint highlights the scale of the alleged operation, involving substantial quantities of heroin and methamphetamine destined for the US market.
This high-profile case underscores the United States’ commitment to pursuing individuals involved in global drug trafficking and arms smuggling, regardless of their former political status.
Qadeer’s fall from a senior position in Afghan politics to a defendant in a US federal court has drawn international attention, highlighting how post-2021 developments and ongoing counter-narcotics efforts continue to affect former Afghan officials.
Legal proceedings are expected to continue in the coming months, with Qadeer remaining in federal detention throughout the process.
The successful extradition is being hailed by American and Kenyan officials as an important example of international collaboration against organized crime.
