Nine Arrested for Illegal Excavation at Nimroz Archaeological Site

Local officials in Nimroz province announced that nine individuals have been arrested on charges of conducting illegal excavations at an archaeological site in the province. The suspects were caught digging in the historical area of ‘Chehel Borj’ by operational police forces under the Taliban administration.

Mawlawi Gul Mohammad Qudrat, spokesman for the Nimroz security command, stated that the individuals were apprehended during a discovery operation while engaged in unauthorized digging. According to him, a rickshaw and several excavation tools were also seized from the site.

The ‘Chehel Borj’ area is considered one of the historically significant regions in the southwest of the country, and preserving its cultural heritage is the responsibility of relevant authorities. In recent years, concerns have increased over the rise of illegal excavations and trafficking of historical artifacts in some provinces.

The Nimroz police spokesman added that after initial investigations, the detainees were handed over to the provincial criminal investigations department for further examination.