Tehran, Iran, Jan. 28
By Mehdi Sepahvand – Trend:
Iran has arrested 23 members of a gold smuggling band that used to carry the precious metal from Turkey into the country.
Sixteen were arrested in West Azerbaijan Province, five in Isfahan Province, and two in Kurdistan Province by intelligence forces, IRIB news agency quoted Anti-smuggling Headquarters Spokesman Qassem Khorshidi as saying Jan. 28.
He added that the arrested members have confessed to having trafficked over 254 kilograms of gold into Iran over the past year.
According to the official, it is estimated that during the previous Iranian fiscal year, which ended March 19, worth $3 billion gold was smuggled into Iran.