Afghan parliament vice-speaker Mohammad Mirza Katawazai has stated that he was not involved in the smuggling of 90 kilograms of gold and 15 million U.S. dollars out of Afghanistan into Tajikistan and the attempt to smuggle them into a third country.
Deputy first speaker of Afghanistan’s lower house (Wolesi Jirga, the House of Representatives) stated this at a meeting with reporters in the Afghan Embassy in Dushanbe on February 27. “All these are rumors,” Afghan parliament vice-speaker said.
Meanwhile, Afghan media outlets on February 27 reported the details of the seizure of US$15 million and 90 kilograms of gold at the Dushanbe airport.
1TV (Afghan TV channel) said the seized dollars and gold are related to Mohammad Mirza Katawazai, Deputy First Speaker of Wolesi Jirga.
Mohammad Mirza Katawazai, however, told reporters in Dushanbe on February 28 that has nothing to do with US$25 million and 90 kilograms of gold seized at the Dushanbe airport.
Mohammad Mirza Katawazai is currently in Dushanbe as member of Afghan delegation that arrived in Dushanbe on a working.
Recall, Tajik prosecutors have detained a group of smugglers who attempted to smuggle a large consignment of gold and foreign currency out of Tajikistan.
Seven persons, including three customs officers, have been detained for an attempt to smuggle 90 kilograms of gold and 15 million U.S. dollars out of Tajikistan to Dubai, Rahmonali Rahimzoda, the chief of the Smuggling Prevention Department at the Customs Service under the Government of Tajikistan, told reporters in Dushanbe on February 18.
According to him, an inspection of passengers on the Dushanbe-Dubai flight found 90 kilograms of gold and 15 million U.S. in late November last year.
“The smugglers brought the gold and foreign currency to Tajikistan from Afghanistan and were going to smuggle them into Dubai,” Customs official said, noting seven persons, including three customs officers, had been detained on suspicion of being involved in that gold and currency smuggling case.
The Prosecutor-General’s Office has instituted criminal proceedings and an investigation is under way.
Rahimzoda refrained from giving further details of this case.
