Iranian Police Seize over Two Tons of Opium in Southeastern Province

Brigadier General Hossein Rahimi said following round-the-clock efforts made by the anti-narcotics forces in the cities of Nimrooz and Zahedan, they identified a major drug ring that intended to smuggle a huge cargo of illicit drugs, according to a Sunday report by the Public Relations Department of Police.

He added that in a successful operation, the police forces managed to seize 1,165 kg of opium, a truck and two cars after arresting 8 smugglers.

In another operation, the police forces in Iranshahr, Sistan and Balouchestan, identified the members of a major drug ring in the province and seized 864kg of opium after chasing the smugglers’ vehicles and clashing with them.

Iran, which has a 900-kilometer common border with Afghanistan, has been used as the main conduit for smuggling Afghan drugs to narcotics kingpins in Europe.

Despite high economic and human costs, the Islamic Republic has been actively fighting drug-trafficking over the past three 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 34 years.