Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 6
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
Iranian security forces seized about 1080 kilogrammes of opium in the city of Ravar in the south eastern Province of Kerman in Iran, the city's prosecutor, Mehdi Ghavidel said, ISNA news agency reported on Dec. 6.
Two smugglers were arrested during the security forces operation, the report said.
The smugglers were trying to carry drugs to the country's central regions.
On Dec. 4, ISNA quoted Director General of Iran 's Anti-Narcotics Headquarters, Brigadier General Alireza Akbarshahi as saying Iranian police have seized 162 tons of various narcotics during last three Iranian calendar months (August 23- November 22).
The figure indicates an increase of 44 per cent compared to the same period last year.
He went on to note 908 smuggling groups have collapsed during the period.
Iran is situated on a major drug route between Afghanistan and Europe, as well as the Gulf States. The Islamic Republic shares about 900 kilometres of common border with Afghanistan, over which 74 per cent of opium is smuggled.
According to official estimates, the fight against drugs annually costs Iran about $1 billion. The statistics also say that there are about two million drug users in Iran.
It was reported that 500 tons of drugs were seized during the last solar year and more than 215 tons during the first five months of the current solar year.
Each year, Iran burns more than 60 tons of various seized narcotics as a symbol of its determination to fight against drugs.