How a polo-loving businessman was a secret global drug lord

Muhammed Asif Hafeez was a global businessman and ambassador of a prestigious London polo club.

He rubbed shoulders with the British elite, including members of the Royal Family .

In reality, he was the puppet-master of a vast drugs empire, supplying many tonnes of heroin, methamphetamine and hashish.

He was sentenced to 16 years in a New York prison for conspiring to import drugs into the US .

Hafeez was arrested in Kenya in October 2014 and extradited to the US in May last year .

He spent six years fighting extradition to the U.S. and the European Court of Human Rights .

Hafeez has pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiring to manufacture and distribute heroin and hashish.

Pre-sentencing, prosecutors described the "extremely fortunate circumstances" of Hafeez 's life, which "throw into harsh relief his decision to scheme... and to profit from the distribution of dangerous substances that destroy lives and whole communities". "Unlike many traffickers whose drug activities are borne, at least in part, from desperation, poverty, and a lack of educational opportunities," they said, "the defendant has lived a life replete with privilege and choice.".