US contractor Mark Frerichs freed by Taliban in swap for drug trafficker

US veteran and civilian contractor Mark Frerichs (Charlene Cakora via AP)

An American contractor held hostage in Afghanistan for more than two years has been released in exchange for a convicted Taliban drug lord jailed in the US, the White House said.

The release of Mark Frerichs represents a rare success in US-Taliban talks since the militant group took power in Afghanistan a little more than a year ago.