Expressing concern over an increase in the smuggling of fuel into the country, the Fuel and Gas Importers Union said thousands of tons of fuel and gas is being brought in illegally. 

The union said fuel worth $1.6 billion USD was imported from Iran legally in the past six months but according to Iranian customs statistics they exported almost $2.6 billion USD. 

The union accused a number of government officials of being involved in the smuggling of fuel and that they allow companies to import thousands of tons without paying the required duties. 

“There is evidence that shows an official who was appointed at a customs office was linked to one government official and when a complaint was lodged against him, he was not fired; instead he was appointed to a higher post,” said Azrakhsh Hafezi, head of the union. 

“Iranian officials say they exported fuel worth $2.572 billion USD to Afghanistan so far this (solar) year but $1.6 billion USD of the fuel has been declared and the remaining is undeclared,” he said. 

“The petrol fuel has a high market (in Afghanistan), for instance, at least 100,000 tons of fuel was imported from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan in the past six months but if you assess, you will see that 90,000 tons of the fuel is not registered and 10,000 tons of the fuel might have arrived in Afghanistan,” said Abdul Hadi Nijrabi, a fuel importer. 

However, the Ministry of Commerce has rejected the allegations. 

“The union should bring evidence to us in order to assess if it is concerned (over the issue),” said Musafir Qoqandi, spokesman for the ministry.