A Labour councillor has denied knowing that a man he met four times in Pakistan was an alleged international drug lord who has been wanted by British police for a decade. During this time, Cllr Zaffar, a councillor since 2011 who was awarded an MBE for services to the voluntary sector, met Billu at least four times at social gatherings. Pictures reviewed by the Mail show that the councillor met the alleged drug lord at a wake in 2019. A video showed Billu walking into the gathering as Cllr Zaffar embraced another man in greeting. Cllr Zaffar met with Billu at the alleged gangster's house again in July 2024 to discuss politics.

Source: The Times November 21, 2025 19:17 UTC