Tuesday, July 03, 2012 -
An Afghan official confirmed on Tuesday that the country’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) has seized a Tajik helicopter.
Tajikistan said last week that two helicopters and their crews had been detained by Afghan officials for over a month.
The helicopter was illegally operating in the country, NDS spokesman Lotfullah Mashal told the Afghan-based Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN).
The helicopter was leased by Tajik firm Supreme to supply NATO troops in the country. However, the helicopter was operating without a permit.
“It is against the law to operate here without legal documents and in such case the chopper will be completely seized,” Mashal said.
Afghan authorities seized the helicopter and have detained it at Kabul International Airport for two weeks.
Taxes to the Afghan government were not paid, according to NDS.