Haji Faizullah Khan Noorzai is a key figure within the Taliban's network who has long been deeply involved in Afghanistan's narcotics sector. He has a longstanding association with Haji Bashar Noorzai, a notorious Afghan drug lord who faced charges related to supporting the Taliban and was sentenced to life in prison in 2009. He was released in a 2022 prisoner swap for U.S. Navy veteran Mark Frerichs, who was held by the Haqqani Network. Haji Faizullah Khan. according to INTERPOL actively fundraised for the Taliban and supplied the group's commanders with “weapons, ammunition, explosives, radios, vehicles, and medical equipment.” His involvement extends to facilitating accommodation for "the Taliban suicide bombers, transporting them from Pakistan to Afghanistan." Moreover, he played a role in "training al-Qaeda fighters" on behalf of the Taliban. Reports from the UN indicate that as of mid-2009, Haji Faizullah operated a madrassa in the Afghanistan/Pakistan border region. This institution not only served as a hub for fundraising but also functioned as a "training ground for Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters." Haji Faizullah was not confined to Afghanistan; he reportedly conducted businesses in Dubai, UAE, and Japan alongside his older brother, Haji Malik Noorzai. Both often traveled to those countries “to import cars, auto parts, and clothing.” Notably, senior Taliban leaders trusted him with their funds, including investing with the two brothers. Born in the mid-1960s, Haji Faizullah lived in Chaman, Pakistan, and is listed on the UN's sanctions list under the designation TAi.153.
