IEA clamps down on the amount of cash, gold taken out of the country

The Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, has issued a decree restricting the amount of money travellers can take out of the country through Kabul International Airport.

The head of the airport, Abdul Hadi Hamdan, said on Thursday that according to the decree, no individual or family can take out more than $5,000.

He said this was part of efforts being made to curb the smuggling of gold and drugs through the airport – efforts that are being stepped up.

“It has been instructed by the Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan that one person can take out [up to] $5,000 that he or she needs [while abroad]; but we will not allow anyone to take out more than $5,000,” said Hamdan.

According to him, airport officials seized tens of thousands of US dollars this week that were hidden in a baby’s diaper.

Hamdan also said that their priority going forward is to curb the practise of smuggling gold and drugs through the airport.

He said that people caught trying to smuggle anything out through the airport would face harsh consequences.

“Those who smuggle dollars, or smuggle gold, or smuggle other goods, will be punished based on the law when they are caught, and in the last few days we have seized dollars that were hidden in a baby’s diaper,” said Hamdan.

Uder the former government, a single traveller could take $10,000 out of the country and $20,000 worth of gold.