Ministry spokesman Mufti Abdul Matin Kani said on social media that the suspects were arrested during a military operation conducted by police in the province's Kashak district on Wednesday.

Kani said the detained suspects had planned to smuggle a money exchanger, Xinhua news agency reported.

Meanwhile, the ministry said police have arrested 26 people accused of involvement in criminal activities, including murder and theft cases, in Faryab, Takhar, Samangan, Badghis, Kunduz, Herat and Paktia provinces.

Details awaited.