Afghan Consul General Resigns Amid Alleged Gold Smuggling Scandal

Consul General of Afghanistan, Zakia Wardak, tendered her resignation on Saturday following accusations of involvement in a gold smuggling case.

Last week, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in Mumbai intercepted Wardak at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, allegedly in possession of 25 kg of smuggled gold worth over Rs 18 crore.

Wardak, who was caught with the foreign-origin gold while traveling from Dubai to India, was not arrested due to her diplomatic immunity as a Consul General.

Sources revealed that Wardak, along with her son, arrived at Mumbai airport on an Emirates flight from Dubai on April 25, opting for the green channel to pass through Customs without declaring any items.

Acting on specific information, DRI officials halted Wardak before she could exit the airport and conducted an examination which led to the discovery of over two dozen gold bars hidden in her clothing.

The gold bars were found concealed in her jacket, leggings, kneecaps, and waist belt, leading to their seizure as Wardak failed to provide legitimate documentation for the source of the gold.

In her resignation statement posted on social media, Wardak cited unfair targeting and defamation campaigns against her and her family over the past year, impacting her ability to carry out her role effectively.

She expressed disappointment at the continuous attacks on her character and the lack of constructive support, especially as the only female representative in her position.

Considering the diplomatic immunity afforded to Wardak, she was issued a notice by the anti-smuggling agencies and allowed to depart without arrest, despite the value of the seized gold exceeding the usual threshold for arrest in smuggling cases.