The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Taliban security officials in northern Balkh province say three individuals, including a main suspect and two intermediaries, have been arrested for allegedly smuggling 540 kilograms of cannabis resin into Uzbekistan via the Hairatan border crossing.
Taliban police spokesperson Mohammad Isa Waseq said the main suspect had carefully concealed the narcotics inside a vehicle before transporting them across the border several days earlier.
He added that the suspects have confessed to the crime during initial investigations and will be referred to the relevant judicial authorities for further legal proceedings.
Balkh province, particularly the Hairatan port, is considered one of Afghanistan’s key commercial gateways and a major transit route linking the country with Central Asia. However, in recent years, the route has also been used for drug trafficking activities.
Authorities say they continue to carry out operations to prevent narcotics smuggling and arrest traffickers, although concerns over cross-border drug movement remain in the region.
