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In this episode of FBI Retired Case File Review, retired agents Christian Anglin and Craig McLaughlin review Operation Crown Prince, an investigation into Afghan nationals residing in the U.S. transporting heroin into the country and providing proceeds to the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and insurgents as a means of material support for their operations combating U.S. and allied forces.
The case was nicknamed “The Great Chicken Caper” as it originated with intelligence that proceeds were laundered through Afghan owned fried chicken businesses along the east. At the time, FBI officials characterized the investigation as “one of the most important being run out of the New York office.
The case resulted in several large kilogram seizures of heroin originating from Afghanistan, dozens of arrests, multiple disruptions and dismantlements, and ultimately the conviction of the world’s largest opium producer, Haji Bashir Noorzai, a prominent Afghan tribal leader and warlord.
Authorities released Noorzai, who had been sentenced to life in prison, in exchange for U.S. contractor Mark Frerichs, who was being held hostage by the Taliban in September 2022.
Special Agent (Retired)
A. Christian Anglin
9/1998 – 3/2023
Retired agent Christian Anglin served in the FBI for more than 24 years.
His first assignment was to the New York Field Office, where he worked on a violent crime squad until he volunteered for reassignment to the International Terrorism Task prior to the attacks of 9/11. Chris reported to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (GTMO) where he assisted in determining the process and course of interrogations of detainees and the formation of a task force comprised of representatives from numerous agencies, the U.S. military and intelligence community partners. He testified in several of the military tribunals of high value detainees. After returning from GTMO, Chris opened Operation Crown Prince.
Later, he accepted a transfer to Springfield, Illinois and was first assigned to the Joint Terrorism Task Force and then formed a Safe Streets Task Force in eastern Illinois, before stepping into the role of Strategic Partnership Coordinator. Prior to retiring, Chris joined the National Academy Unit in Quantico, VA. Currently, he is employed as the Associate Director – Federal Public Safety for Verizon Business Development. Chris also joined Performance Protocol as a leadership coach and joined the D2C team.
Special Agent (Retired)
Craig McLaughlin
9/1998 – 7/2021
Retired agent Craig McLaughlin served in the FBI for 23 years, working primarily on national security matters including counterintelligence and counterterrorism.
Craig served in the New York Office for 14 years and was a member of the NYO JTTF and Evidence Response Team. Craig served as the lead Counterterrorism Assistant Legal Attaché at the US Embassy in Berlin, Germany, for 4 years before finishing his FBI career as a supervisor leading a counterintelligence squad in Newark. Currently, Craig works in global corporate security at Verizon.
The following are news articles about Operation Crown Prince and the exchanged for hostage Mark Frerichs from the Taliban:
Free Republic – 9/23/02: Crown Chicken Eyed by Feds in Al Qaeda Funds Probe
New York Daily News – 4/9/2018: 9 SMACKED IN HEROIN BUST Say Osama got chicken store cash
New York Times – 9/23/2008: Manhattan Jury Convicts Man Linked to Taliban Leader in Drug Smuggling Case
New York Times – 5/1/ 2009: Afghan Linked to Taliban Sentenced to Life in Drug Trafficking Case
Time magazine – 2/8/2007: Warlord or Druglord?
VOA News – 9/19/2022: Taliban Free Last American Hostage in Afghanistan in Prisoner Swap
New York Times – 9/19/2022: U.S. Hostage Exchanged for Afghan Drug Lord in Prisoner Swap
To learn more about the behind-the-scenes negotiations made by U.S. officials to assist families seeking to secure the release of loved ones held hostage by terrorists listen to FBI Retired Case File Review Episode 301: Zorka Martinovich – We Don’t Negotiate With Terrorists?
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