Haji Baz Mohammad, the alleged head of an international heroin trafficking organisation, became the first Afghan citizen to be extradited to the United States to stand trial for his crimes, a media report said on Tuesday.

The News quoted a US embassy statement as saying that Haji Baz was one of eight individuals designated by President Bush for sanctions pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act.

The Act targets, on a worldwide basis, significant foreign narcotics traffickers, their organisations, and operatives.

Haji Baz was indicted in November 2004 in the US on charges stemming from his role in smuggling large quantities of heroin from Afghanistan through Pakistan into the United States and Europe from 1990 to 2004.

From his bases of operation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, his organisation concocted elaborate schemes to ship heroin to the US, including a sophisticated smuggling routine where transporters hid heroin in their clothing, suitcases and containers.

Haji Baz was arrested in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in January 2005 and remained in Afghan custody until his extradition to the US this past Thursday.

His arrest and subsequent extradition represents a significant step towards reducing drug production and trafficking in the region as well as reaffirming the rule of law in Afghanistan, the statement said.