Man Arrested in Panjshir for Illegal Emerald Trafficking

The Panjshir Province Police have announced the arrest of a man suspected of illegally trafficking emeralds in the district of Hesa Awal. Qamil Sad, spokesperson for the Panjshir Security Command, confirmed that the emeralds were seized at the Doab checkpoint along with the suspect. According to him, the precious stones are estimated to be worth approximately $20,000.

Based on police statements, the arrested individual intended to transport this quantity of emeralds to Kabul without legal authorization. Security agencies under the Taliban administration have previously been accused of failing to prevent the trafficking of natural resources.

While the seizure of this shipment may be seen as a positive step, the lack of transparency, accountability, and effective oversight of mineral resources in Afghanistan continues to create significant opportunities for widespread exploitation. The Taliban administration, which has complete control over these areas, is held responsible for the ongoing smuggling of the country’s natural resources.