Afghan officers arrested for smuggling weapons to Taliban: report

Saturday September 23, 2006 (0058 PST)

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KABUL: Several Afghan officers were detained for trafficking weapons and ammunition to Taliban militants, a local newspaper reported.

"The National Security Directorate arrested some Afghan military personnel in Charasiab district of the central Kabul province 28 days ago when they were trafficking arms and ammunition to Taliban rebels in the neighboring Logar province," Arman-e-Millie said.

The traffickers were carrying 150 boxes of Kalashnikov rounds and other arms by a truck, which was marked with UN emblem and escorted by a military Ranger vehicle.

Several Afghan officers, including Brigadier Abdul Faqir, chief of weapon depots in Khirabad, south of Kabul, have been arrested for being involved in the smuggling case, the newspaper said.

However, the Defense Ministry, which the officers are subject to, is yet to disclose the case.

Similar illegal activities have happened in the past, the newspaper quoted unnamed sources in the ministry as saying. No officials in the ministry were available to make comments on the report