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By Matthew Russell Lee

SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 22 – Accusing of trafficking heroin to support the Haqqani network in Afghanistan, the US Attorney's Office on April 4, 2019 asked that defendant  Haji Abdul Satar Abdul Manaf be admonished to tell his family members in Afghanistan not to threaten witnesses. U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Paul Crotty was happy to do so, and set a control date 30 days out about discovery.

  But an incongruity arose. It was said that Manaf can neither read nor write, yet the prosecutor referred to hundreds of text messages as being part of the discovery. Afterward, Inner City Press the only media present for the proceeding asked her to explain. She politely declined. Judge Crotty meanwhile asked Manaf's lawyer in what language she speaks with him - Urdu - then asked, You don't speak Pashtun?

Jump cut to July 5, 2024, when Manaf's white shoe counsel filed a motion in limine seeking to exclude his 2012 placement on the OFAC list and certain testimony of Dr. Tracia Bacon on the Taliban and Haqqani network.

Trial began July 22, 2024 and Inner City Press was there. Thread

Assistant US Attorney: Manaf flew from Afghanistan to Estonia to sell Taliban protected heroin into the US. But he sold to  DEA agent and was arrested. Then he arranged to threaten a DEA source in Afghanistan

AUSA: Manaf has a personalized stamp from the Taliban, showing that he and hos shipments were protected. He paid the Haqqani network. He was ready to start with a 500 kilo shipment. Then from jail he called into the interrogation of the DEA source

 AUSA: You'll see Manaf on video in Estonia. We'll show you the heroin, with the Taliban stamp. The confidential source was paid. Assess hom, and use your common sense - you will find him guilty

Defense: Sure Mr Manaf knew the Taliban - they were running half the country at the time. This is just about ten kilos, picked up by the DEA's own source.

 Defense: Mr Manaf cannot read or write in any language, Pashto nor Farsi- AUSA: Objection! Judge Rakoff: Overruled. Defense: The US DEA paid $1.7 million in this case. The source gave Manaf a kilo of opium because he's an addict AUSA: Objection! Judge: Sustained

 Defense: The Taliban rule by fear. Manaf was no stranger - he was living under 2 governments. The government cannot prove intent.

Defense: You will hear he could get drugs to Tanzania and Mozambique, but not the US. It's the DEA that arranged that. All Mr. Manaf said was "OK," like my husband says when I ask him to take out the trash

Defense: We will ask you to find Mr. Manaf not guilty. Judge: First witness. AUSA: We call DEA Special Operarions Special Agent Sam Rahi.

The case is US v. Manaf, 18-cr-762 (Rakoff)