KABUL, Afghanistan — Taliban border officials said Friday that four Chinese nationals have been arrested at Kabul International Airport on suspicion of attempting to smuggle raw gold out of the country.
According to Abidullah Farooqi, spokesman for the Taliban border forces, the individuals were allegedly caught with 679 grams of raw gold, which they intended to transport from Kabul to China. He did not provide further details about the incident or the identities of those detained.
The Chinese Embassy in Kabul has not issued any public comment regarding the arrests.
Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, the number of Chinese nationals traveling to Afghanistan — primarily for tourism and investment exploration — has increased, though diplomatic engagement between the two governments remains limited.
Smuggling of precious minerals and resources has long been a concern in Afghanistan, a country rich in natural assets but plagued by weak regulatory enforcement and limited oversight at border crossings and airports.
