Two Pakistani nationals, Sheikh Waseem Ul Haq, 43, and Tahir Saeed, 54, have been sentenced for running a shadow pharmaceutical pipeline from Pakistan and the UK directly into American homes. From late 2005 to October 2012, the pair operated a network of Internet sites that illegally shipped nearly $780,000 worth of controlled substances into the United States, part of a $2 million global operation, the Department of Justice confirmed.
Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia handed down sentences of time served—Ul Haq sentenced on the docket today, Saeed on September 23. Both remain in federal custody awaiting removal to Pakistan. Their downfall began in October 2012, when London’s Metropolitan Police Fugitive Squad arrested them at a hotel near Heathrow Airport. Extradited to D.C. in spring 2013, they faced a 48-count indictment returned in November 2012.
Ul Haq pleaded guilty to all 48 counts, including conspiracy to import Schedule II, III, and IV controlled substances; distribution of those drugs; introducing misbranded pharmaceuticals into interstate commerce; and international money laundering. Saeed admitted guilt to three core conspiracies: importing controlled pharmaceuticals, distributing misbranded drugs, and laundering money across borders. Each agreed to forfeit $388,265.11 in illicit proceeds.
The operation ran through two shell businesses—Waseem Enterprises and Harry’s Enterprises—masquerading as legitimate pharmaceutical wholesalers. But in reality, they funneled Ritalin, Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Klonopin, anabolic steroids, and other prescription drugs through unregulated web storefronts. Customers in the U.S. were instructed to wire payments via Western Union to associates in Karachi, Pakistan, creating a financial smokescreen to hide Ul Haq and Saeed as the true recipients.
Internal emails revealed the corruption ran deep: the defendants admitted to bribing Pakistani customs officials to bypass export controls. Shipments were carefully disguised—packaged and labeled to slip past inspectors. The drugs arrived at American doorsteps without prescriptions, medical oversight, or safety guarantees, posing serious public health risks.
“This prosecution demonstrates how the use of the Internet to distribute drugs illegally is a major threat to consumers,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “These defendants operated their Internet marketing scheme from Pakistan and were able to ship drugs illegally and directly to U.S. citizens. We will enforce the law to protect consumers from adulterated, contaminated and counterfeit drugs and assure that only medically necessary drugs are dispensed by licensed pharmacists who are filling legitimately issued prescriptions by licensed physicians.”
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Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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