In Jawzjan province, Afghan police arrested 12 individuals for illegally excavating historical sites, a provincial police office said on Wednesday.
A statement from the Jawzjan provincial police office reported that the 12 people were digging hilltops in the Kohistan district in search of historical relics and other treasures when police apprehended them for investigation.
"The 12 individuals were digging hilltops in Kohistan district in search of historical relics and other treasures when police apprehended them for investigation," the statement read.
The statement further added that police have also arrested several individuals on suspicion of hunting rare birds in the area.
Police in the northern province have been wary of illegal looting and wildlife poaching, issuing warnings to local communities that undisclosed artifacts and protected species are protected by law. The arrests followed a routine patrol that uncovered clear evidence of unauthorized excavation in a historically sensitive zone.
Witnesses describe the excavation site as a series of spoil heaps on a hilltop, where equipment and shovels appear to have been used to sift through earth that the authorities described as a potential repository for antiquities. The police also seized signs of a small search operation in the vicinity of the hill, indicating that the suspects were organized and had a strong motive for the dig.
Officials noted that the suspected illegal activity threatens both cultural heritage and biodiversity, underscoring the importance of strict enforcement in Jawzjan. The arrested individuals are currently being investigated, and the findings will be presented to a court for further proceedings.
The arrests come amid increasing concern from regional authorities that looters are targeting historically significant sites throughout the country. The provincial police highlighted that the removal of artifacts not only compromises the historical record but also deprives the community of potential heritage tourism revenue.
According to the police statement, the suspect teams had not obtained any permits typically required to conduct any excavation work on sites designated as heritage or archaeological landmarks. The absence of official documentation web serves as a key factor for the officers’ decision to detain those individuals.
Local officials plan to cooperate with national heritage authorities to ensure that any recovered artifacts will be catalogued and preserved properly. The authorities also laid out a possibility of restitution for any finds; the investigations remain under strict review.
As the investigations continue, police have urged the public to report any further suspicious activity. The department’s final reports are expected to be released in the following weeks, following a comprehensive forensic examination of the dig site and recovered items.
