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Pizza Man Peddled AR-15 Parts to Pakistan
BALTIMORE, MD – Kamran Ashfaq Malik, 35, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, isn’t just slinging dough. The pizza shop owner pleaded guilty today to a scheme to illegally ship semi-automatic rifle parts and accessories to Pakistan. His accomplice, Waleed Aftab, 22, also of Upper Marlboro, copped to the same charge back in December 2014. The feds say Malik used his business as a cover for a dangerous international operation.
The bust was announced by U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein and William Winter, Special Agent in Charge of ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations. According to court documents, Malik, who also maintains a residence in Lahore, Pakistan, and Aftab, an employee at the pizza shop, were brazen in their attempts to skirt the law. Between September and October 2012, Malik procured roughly 48 AR-15 100-round dual drum magazines, sometimes using the name, address, and bank account of an associate to bypass magazine capacity restrictions in Maryland.
The pair didn’t stop at just procuring the parts. Between October and November 2012, Malik directed Aftab and others to ship multiple illegal shipments of firearms components to Pakistan. They attempted to conceal the contraband by falsifying return addresses, misrepresenting the contents of the packages, and undervaluing the items. One shipment, intercepted during a routine security screening in Dubai, UAE, contained two lower receivers for semi-automatic rifles, bolt carriers, magazines, an optical gun sight, and a laser-equipped flashlight – all prohibited exports without a license. The defendants never bothered to obtain one.
Evidence piled up quickly. Aftab was caught at JFK International Airport on December 1, 2012, with a receipt for six AR-15 magazines purchased by Malik. A subsequent border search of Malik’s phone and laptop, conducted March 7, 2013, revealed photos of AR-15s and magazines taken near his Maryland and Pakistan residences, along with a text message referencing the detained Dubai shipment. The scheme continued even after the initial interception, with Malik shipping another package containing 28 .223 caliber bolt carriers on March 6, 2014, falsely labeled as “screw holders and metal screws.”
Despite repeated warnings – export restrictions were explicitly noted on firearms transaction records and shipping invoices – Malik persisted. He ignored the red flags, continuing to funnel weapons parts overseas. The U.S. Attorney’s office hasn’t announced sentencing dates for either Malik or Aftab. This case is a clear example of how seemingly legitimate businesses can be used to facilitate illegal activities with potentially devastating consequences.
The investigation remains ongoing, and federal authorities are examining potential links to larger networks involved in arms trafficking. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments. The charges against Kamran Ashfaq Malik and Waleed Aftab demonstrate a flagrant disregard for U.S. export laws and a willingness to risk national security for profit.
Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Organized Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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