TEHRAN (Iran News) – Border guards in the southeastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan have managed to smash a major drug ring, capturing 500 kilograms of opium, the commander of the province’s border police announced on Sunday. Following intelligence activities, the forces of the Mirjaveh Border Regiment were informed of the intention of a major […]
TEHRAN (Iran News) – Border guards in the southeastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan have managed to smash a major drug ring, capturing 500 kilograms of opium, the commander of the province’s border police announced on Sunday.
Following intelligence activities, the forces of the Mirjaveh Border Regiment were informed of the intention of a major drug gang to smuggle a heavy cargo by car to the city, Brigadier General Mohammad Mollashahi said.
The border guards immediately identified the members of the drug trafficking gang and ambushed them, he stated.
During the operation, the border guards arrested two smugglers and seized two vehicles, 500kg of opium, and a large amount of ammunition, the commander went on to say.
Police and security forces have been quite successful in ensuring security in the province despite its long borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan, harsh weather and vast desert areas.
Iran, which has a 900-kilometer common border with Afghanistan, has been used as the main conduit for the traffics of major Afghan drug ring to narcotics kingpins in Europe.
Despite high economic and human costs, the Islamic Republic has been actively fighting drug-trafficking over the past decades.
The country has spent more than $700 million on sealing its borders and preventing the transit of narcotics destined for European, Arab and Central Asian countries.
The war on drug trade originating from Afghanistan has claimed the lives of nearly 4,000 Iranian police officers over the past four decades.
- source : Tasnim, Irannews
