Key Points:
- Iranian drug lord Naji Sharifi Zindashti, also known as the “Big Guy”, is wanted by the FBI.
- Accused of flooding Europe, including Britain, with heroin via his cartel, the “Friends’ Club”.
- Alleged supplier to the East London gang Hackney Bombers, involved in a turf war with the Tottenham Turks.
- A nine-year-old girl was shot in Hackney last year in suspected crossfire linked to this gang rivalry.
- Rival crime boss Izzet Eren was killed in Moldova in apparent retaliation.
- Zindashti faces a federal arrest warrant in the US over alleged murder-for-hire plots.
- The Friends’ Club is said to include Iranian government officials and security personnel.
- Zindashti allegedly hired Hells Angels operatives via encrypted networks to target dissidents.
- Arrest attempts are ongoing, with Zindashti believed to operate between Iran, Turkey, and Kurdistan.
Naji Sharifi Zindashti, an Iranian drug kingpin dubbed a “narco terrorist,” is accused of orchestrating heroin supply lines into the UK, fuelling violent gang feuds in East London that have endangered civilians, including children. He is wanted by the FBI for alleged international murder-for-hire conspiracies.
Who is Naji Sharifi Zindashti and why is he wanted by the FBI?
Zindashti, known by the alias “Big Guy”, is a high-profile Iranian crime boss and leader of a cartel called the “Friends’ Club.” He has been accused by the FBI of using his Iran-based criminal network to facilitate attempted murders of individuals who fled Iran. The US District Court in Minnesota issued a federal arrest warrant for Zindashti in December 2023 on charges of Conspiracy to Use Interstate Commerce Facilities in the Commission of Murder-For-Hire.
According to FBI documents, between December 2020 and March 2021, Zindashti’s network used encrypted messaging platforms to communicate with North American criminals—allegedly including Hells Angels members—to carry out murders on US soil.
How is Zindashti connected to drug distribution in Britain?
Zindashti’s Friends’ Club cartel is suspected of trafficking heroin from Afghanistan into Europe over the past decade, reportedly with assistance from elements of the Iranian security services. Within the UK, he is believed to be the main supplier of heroin to the Hackney Bombers, an East London gang.
The Mirror reported that Zindashti has also maintained ties with London gangster Ibrahim Kadir Aslan. This drug supply link has allegedly intensified gang rivalries, particularly between the Hackney Bombers and their long-time adversaries, the Tottenham Turks.
What role did Zindashti’s network play in violent incidents in London?
The Hackney Bombers, one of Zindashti’s alleged client gangs, have been linked to a drive-by shooting last May on Kingsland High Street, Hackney. A helmeted gunman on a stolen motorbike opened fire on a restaurant, seriously injuring a nine-year-old girl dining with her family.
Authorities believe the child was an unintended victim of crossfire between warring gangs.
Later in the year, a high-ranking Tottenham Turks member, Izzet Eren, was assassinated outside a café in Chisinau, Moldova, reportedly by rival gang members. Kemal Armagan, a suspected hitman for the Hackney Bombers, is believed to have orchestrated the killing. Armagan, already wanted in connection with two other murders, was arrested at a port in Izmir, Turkey, last month.
What is known about the Friends’ Club cartel?
The Friends’ Club, allegedly led by Zindashti, is said to include influential officials from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and political figures. The cartel has built a major heroin smuggling network, which has destabilised regions across Europe through violence and addiction.
The FBI’s statement noted the group’s transnational reach and warned that Zindashti may continue to operate between Iran, Turkey, and Kurdistan. The agency has urged anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact law enforcement immediately.
What’s the international response to Zindashti’s operations?
The United States has prioritised Zindashti’s capture, placing him on its most wanted list. The allegations of his involvement in a global network targeting dissidents and moving massive quantities of narcotics have raised concerns among European and North American intelligence communities.
While no formal charges have yet been brought against him in the UK, the suspected ties to domestic gang violence and the flow of heroin into British cities remain under investigation by British authorities.
The Metropolitan Police and FBI continue to collaborate on efforts to dismantle the Friends’ Club and locate Zindashti.
