According to reports, the Taliban have captured two people in the eastern province of Nangarhar for allegedly trying to transport lithium ore into Pakistan.
Four tons of lithium ore were discovered hidden inside a truck below a cargo of coal when two individuals were apprehended on Sunday at the Torkham border crossing, according to provincial authorities.
Earlier, while attempting to transport around 1,000 tons of rocks containing raw lithium, two Chinese nationals and three Afghans were detained.
When the lithium was transported illegally from Nuristan and Kunar to the province of Nangarhar, it was seized.
The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum reports that 700 tonnes were seized in the province of Kunar and another 300 tonnes were captured in Nangarhar and given over to the ministry.
Modern technology, including batteries in cellphones, electric motors, computers, and drones, mostly makes use of a rare metal called lithium.
According to reports, Afghanistan, one of the richest nations in the world in terms of natural resources, has massive lithium reserves and rare earth minerals worth an estimated $1 trillion.