Afghan government officials helped smugglers sneak almost $1 billion out of Afghanistan, documents show
The US evacuated more than 120,000 people from Afghanistan by August 31, 2021.
Documents assembled by Afghanistan's now-defunct government and obtained by Insider show that $59.7 million in cash and gold went from Afghanistan to Uzbekistan through the port of Hairatan during the first three months of 2021, as the US contemplated withdrawing its forces and the Taliban geared up for the spring offensive that eventually toppled Kabul. During a 13-month period running from May 2019 through May 2020, the total was a staggering $824 million.
Noor did not immediately respond to a request for comment made through his former spokesperson; Katawazai did not immediately respond to a message sent via his Facebook page.The investigation into the smuggling ring was led by an Afghan official who provided Insider with contemporaneous emails, meeting notes, investigative materials including interviews and videos, as well as additional reports on corruption compiled as part of their official duties.
"The president would say, 'Oh, we're working on it," said the investigator, whose identity is known to Insider but whose name and other details are being withheld due to the ongoing risk of reprisals."We would follow up two or three times and nothing would happen. It was clear he wasn't interested. If the president wasn't going to take any action, there was no way we could go further.
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