Taliban Authorities Report Prevention of Large-Scale Smuggling Imports

The Taliban’s Ministry of Finance announced that the General Directorate of Customs has prevented the entry of a significant volume of smuggled goods in several border provinces of the country over the past three weeks. According to the ministry, these operations were carried out by mobile supervisory teams in various areas.

According to a released statement, the confiscated goods were seized in the provinces of Kandahar, Nimroz, Farah, Nangarhar, and Helmand. Officials said smugglers attempted to bring these items into internal markets secretly and without paying customs duties.

The list of seized items includes 47,400 kilograms of medicine, 34 tons of rice, 11 tons of chocolate, 8 tons of melaya (a traditional garment), hundreds of kilograms of tomato paste, pickles, dates, and cheese, as well as 4 tons of new clothing and 2.5 tons of fabric. The Ministry of Finance stated that these goods, along with the accused individuals, have been handed over to the relevant customs authorities for legal proceedings.

This action comes as prices for raw materials in the country’s markets have risen once again with the approach of the month of Ramadan. Some economic experts emphasize that the lack of effective oversight and transparent market management creates conditions both for price increases and the expansion of smuggling—a situation that requires practical measures and clear accountability from the Taliban administration.