NEW YORK — Abdul Zahir Qadeer, a former general in Afghanistan's paramilitary Border Force and former deputy speaker in the country's National Assembly, was extradited to the United States on Friday. He faces federal charges in the Southern District of New York for conspiring to import heroin and methamphetamine and for firearm-related offenses.

Qadeer made an initial appearance in a New York courtroom on Friday and was ordered detained pending trial. The indictment includes one count of conspiracy to import narcotics and two counts of conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.

According to a Drug Enforcement Administration affidavit, the agency began investigating Qadeer in November 2024 after he started negotiating with a confidential source. In December 2024, Qadeer allegedly sold a two-kilogram test shipment of methamphetamine to an associate of a DEA informant in South Africa for $14,000. He continued negotiations into 2025 regarding the sale of hundreds of kilograms of heroin and methamphetamine.

In February 2025, an informant told Qadeer of a plan to purchase 500 to 600 kilograms of heroin and methamphetamine for sale in the United States. During these discussions, Qadeer allegedly arranged to sell hundreds of assault rifles, heavy machine guns, pistols, rocket-propelled grenades, and grenades, along with thousands of rounds of ammunition. He reportedly provided quotes for the weapons and stated he was ready to deliver them within three days of receiving a delivery location.

Qadeer attended a meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, in April 2025, believing it was with a drug trafficking organization. The meeting was instead with multiple DEA confidential sources. Kenyan authorities arrested Qadeer following the meeting, leading to his extradition.

"While purporting to be a political leader of Afghanistan, Abdul Zahir Qadeer was allegedly leading a criminal enterprise dealing in dangerous and addictive narcotics and heavy weapons," Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said. "The Drug Enforcement Administration led an investigation that ended Qadeer's audacious criminal activity, and now he will face justice in the United States."

If convicted, Qadeer faces a minimum of 10 years in prison for the drug-related charge and a minimum of 30 years for the weapon-related charges. Both charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.