110 Detained in Nimroz on Human Trafficking Charges
The Directorate of Information and Public Relations of the Nimroz Police Command announced that 110 individuals were detained in the jurisdiction of the Third Security Belt and the area near the Deh Maladar checkpoint in Zaranj city, on charges of attempting to travel to other countries illegally. According to this directorate, the operation was conducted by the battalion forces based on the order of the Taliban leadership.
According to the report, five more people were arrested on suspicion of human trafficking; two with Toyota vehicles and three others with Hosti vehicles. No details have been released regarding the identities of the detainees or their probable destinations.
In a separate report, Attaullah Mustafa, Head of the Criminal Crimes Unit of Nimroz Police Command, stated that since last week, 52 other individuals have been detained in various parts of Zaranj city on charges including theft, “moral corruption,” disputes, and illegal relations.
Security officials said that the detainees have been handed over to judicial and legal organs after their cases were completed. However, human rights organizations have continually expressed concern over the lack of transparency in the arrest process and the limited access of suspects to defense attorneys within the Taliban’s judicial system; an issue about which there is no clear information concerning these detainees either.
Nimroz, which borders Iran and lies along migration routes, is among the provinces where many residents seek to leave due to economic problems and unemployment. However, the Taliban administration considers illegal exit attempts a crime and responds with security measures.
