Haji Ayub Afridi

Involvement in the Soviet-Afghan War (1979–1989) Ayub Afridi was a key player in the Soviet–Afghan War. In close collaboration with the CIA, he was able to supplement huge amounts of money for the Mujahideen in Afghanistan through his growing of poppies to supply the heroin trade. An agreement was reached where he would face another trial in Pakistan. In Pakistan he was given a seven-year sentence for the same charge, exporting hashish into Belgium.

Most of his properties in various affluent areas across Pakistan were confiscated by the Government of Pakistan. As is the custom in with the Maliks of the area, in the mid-eighties he built a well-fortified residence, known as Ayub Afridi Kala (Ayub Afridi Fort), in Landi Kotal in Khyber Agency.

The biggest drug bust of the world happened on the Kohat road of Peshawar when his heroin and hashish was busted by anti-narcotics Pakistan.

After the September 11 attacks he was freed from prison in Karachi after serving just a few weeks of a seven-year sentence for the export of 6.5 tons of hashish, seized at Antwerp, Belgium, in the 1980s. He had also been fined 4 million rupees (US$82,000). No reasons were given for Afridi's release, or under which legislation he was allowed to return to his home town in Khyber Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas. On 30 March 2006 the Supreme Court allowed the Anti Narcotics Force to confiscate a 100-room 'palace', petrol pumps, and other properties worth Rs 167.8 million.