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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 20 sepTember 2022
U.S. contractor freed by Taliban in swap for drug trafficker

By ERIC TUCKER and RAHIM Frerichs, 60, had been ly to us,” said a statement middle men who moved erichs.
FAIEZ working on civil engineer- from the sister, Charlene their drugs outside Afghani- But there had been little
Associated Press ing projects at the time of Cakora. stan. public indication of Wash-
WASHINGTON (AP) — An ington proceeding along
American contractor held those lines.
hostage in Afghanistan Eric Lebson, a former U.S.
for more than two years government national secu-
has been released in ex- rity official who had been
change for a convicted advising Frerichs family,
Taliban drug lord jailed in said in a statement that
the United States, the White “everything about this case
House said Monday, an- has been an uphill fight.”
nouncing a rare success in He criticized the Trump
U.S.-Taliban talks since the administration for having
militant group took power given away “our leverage
a little more than a year to get Mark home quickly
ago by signing a peace accord
Mark Frerichs, a Navy vet- with the Taliban without
eran who had spent more ever having asked them to
than a decade in Afghani- return Mark first.’’
stan as a civilian contrac- “Mark’s family then had to
tor, was abducted in Janu- navigate two administra-
ary 2020 and is believed tions, where many people
to have been held since viewed Mark’s safe return
then by the Taliban-linked as an impediment to their
Haqqani network. He was plans for Afghanistan,” the
traded for Bashir Noorzai, statement said.
a Taliban associate con- The collapse of the West-
victed of heroin trafficking ern-backed Afghan gov-
conspiracy who had spent ernment and takeover by
17 years behind bars be- This undated photo provided to The AP shows Mark Frerichs, a U.S. veteran and civilian contractor the Taliban in August 2021
fore his release Monday. held more than 2 years in Afghanistan by the Taliban. raised additional concern
The exchange is one of the Associated Press that any progress in nego-
most significant prisoner tiations could be undone
swaps to take place un- his Jan. 31, 2020, abduction Noorzai, at the time of his A senior administration of- or that Frerichs could be
der the Biden administra- in Kabul. 2005 arrest, hardly seemed ficial who briefed reporters forgotten. But his name was
tion, coming five months He’s believed to have an ideal recipient for presi- on condition of anonym- invoked last month when
after a deal with Russia been lured into a meet- dential clemency. He’d ity under ground rules set Biden was said by his advis-
that resulted in the release ing to discuss a new proj- been designated on a list by the administration said ers to have pressed officials
of Marine veteran Trevor ect and then transported reserved for some of the that the U.S. government to consider any risk posed
Reed. Though his case has to Khost, a stronghold of world’s most prolific drug had now determined that to Frerichs by the drone
received less public atten- the Taliban-linked Haqqani traffickers, and was pros- Noorzai’s release would strike in Afghanistan that
tion than those of other network near the border ecuted in federal court in “not materially change any killed al-Qaida leader Ay-
Americans held abroad, in- with Pakistan. New York on charges that risk to Americans or funda- man al-Zawahri.
cluding WNBA star Brittney He was last seen in a video accused him of owning mentally alter the contours The Taliban-appointed for-
Griner and corporate secu- posted last spring by The opium fields in Kandahar of the drug trade there.” eign minister, Amir Khan

rity executive Paul Whelan New Yorker in which he province and relying on a Officials also took into ac- Muttaqi, hailed the ex-
who are both held in Russia appeared in traditional Af- network of distributors who count that Noorzai had change Monday as the
and whose relatives met ghan clothing and plead- sold the heroin. spent 17 years in prison, and start of a “new era” in U.S.-
with President Joe Biden on ed for his release. He was When he was sentenced to said that it became clear Taliban relations and the
Friday U.S. officials said the accompanied Monday by life imprisonment, the then- from negotiations that re- opening of a “new door for
deal for Frerichs was the the administration’s spe- top federal prosecutor in leasing him was the key to talks.”
culmination of months of cial presidential envoy for Manhattan said Noorzai’s getting Frerichs home. U.S. officials were more cir-
quiet negotiations. hostage affairs and was in “worldwide narcotics net- At a press conference cumspect. Though it does
Those discussions gained stable health, a U.S. official work supported a Taliban Monday, Noorzai ex- not recognize the Taliban
new momentum in June said. His ultimate destina- regime that made Afghani- pressed gratitude at seeing government, the U.S. does
when Biden granted tion was not immediately stan a breeding ground for his “mujahedeen brothers” have interests at stake in

Noorzai relief from his life clear. international terrorism.” a reference to the Taliban Afghanistan and will con-
sentence, setting the stage A sister of Frerichs, who The deal underscored the in Kabul. tinue to engage with the
for what one administra- is from Lombard, Illinois, two sides to the Taliban’s “I pray for more success of Taliban in addressing the
tion official described as thanked U.S. officials who approach to illegal drugs. the Taliban,” he added. “I hunger and humanitarian
a “very narrow window of helped secure her broth- In April, they announced a hope this exchange can crisis gripping the country,
opportunity this month” to er’s release. ban on harvesting the pop- lead to peace between administration officials said
carry out the deal. “I am so happy to hear pies that produce opium Afghanistan and America, Monday.
Biden said in a statement that my brother is safe and for making heroin an or- because an American was But officials say they remain
released by the White on his way home to us. Our der that also outlawed the released and I am also free concerned about whether
House, “Bringing the nego- family has prayed for this manufacture and transpor- now.” the Taliban are committed
tiations that led to Mark’s each day of the more than tation of narcotics. How- Even before their takeover to fighting terrorism and by
freedom to a successful 31 months he has been a ever, during the years-long of Afghanistan in August the exclusion of girls from
resolution required difficult hostage. We never gave Taliban insurgency, they last year, the Taliban had high schools there, an issue
decisions, which I did not up hope that he would sur- reportedly made millions of demanded the U.S. release that drew a United Nations
take lightly.” vive and come home safe- dollars taxing farmers and Noorzai in exchange for Fr- reprimand on Sunday.q