‘What you or I would do with the money is one thing,’ Ben said. ‘It’s what Nazim would do with it that worries me. That much cash would pay for enough guns and bombs to declare war on Europe. And it’s only the first shipment.’ He wasn’t even going to try to calculate the overall value of the whole 65,000 kilos.

Roth said, ‘Man, he’s looking at bringing in over seventy tons. The entire annual global heroin consumption is only about four hundred. Where’s he getting it all from? Afghanistan? No fuckin’ way. Pardon my French, Ma’am.’

Segal shook his head. ‘I’m afraid you’re wrong on both counts. It’s not heroin. And it’s not cocaine either. I almost wish it were. It’s something much more sinister.’

Chapter 48

Ben and Roth exchanged glances. Roth’s brow was crinkled in concentration, his eyes as sharp as a laser-guided weapons system locked onto its target.

Segal shifted to the edge of the bed, staring at the cheap hotel-room carpet as he came to the critical revelation. He’d finally managed to control the emotions that had been threatening to tip him over, and spoke calmly and mechanically.

‘You obviously know, as everyone does, that Islamist terror organisations have been heavily involved in the drug trade for many years. You also know that their primary source, for a long time, was Afghanistan, where the cultivation of opium poppy and the facilities for refining the raw opium into heroin expanded enormously with the economic disruptions caused by the Soviet invasion. The Afghan government were unable to channel many resources into combating the growing illegal drug trade, because all their financial and technical aid was focused on fighting the insurgents. Worse, many corrupt Afghan authorities were willing to aid the drug traffickers, getting rich in the process. But the more enterprising elements within the insurgent factions were also very quick to get in on the act.

‘As instability and war in the region went on and on, so did heroin production. The continued American military presence only intensified matters, to the point where al-Qaeda and the Taliban became viewed as little more than glorified drug cartels. Which was a distortion of reality, since while actual drug cartels are only interested in personal gain, the Islamists saw themselves as engaged in a holy war that needed funding wherever it could get it. Moreover, if the fruits of the drug trade helped to weaken and destabilise the Western countries that were the ultimate target of their jihad crusade, so much the better. That’s a crucial part of this. Drugs foster crime, violence, mental illness and social decay, and are one of the most effective means of rotting a civilisation from the inside out. And that’s exactly what they want to happen, in Europe and eventually the USA.’

‘We get it,’ Ben said. Roth was staring intently at Segal and processing every word.