Iranian anti-drug agents seized nearly 8.5 tons of narcotics and arrested 955 drug traffickers throughout the country from June 22 to July 22, according to a report released by their headquarters on Sunday.
Some 6,820 traffickers and 14,581 addicts were also rounded up in the period, said the statement, adding the haul was mainly accomplished along the eastern borders in Khorassan and Sistan-Baluchistan provinces, said the report, cited by the official Iranian news agency, IRNA.
"Thirty assault rifles and 248 motorbikes and automobiles were also confiscated," it said.
The drugs included 4,787 kilos of opium, 3,101 kilos of hashish, 347 kilos of heroin and 179 kilos of morphine.
Iranian law imposes the death penalty for possession of more than 30 grams of heroin or five kilos (11 pounds) of opium.
Drug trafficking is a major security problem along Iran's
900-kilometer eastern border with Afghanistan, a major producer of narcotic drugs. Security problems have intensified in recent months with reports of armed bandits holding civilians in the region hostage for ransom or as drug sellers.
Iran is a major transit route for drugs originating from
Afghanistan and Pakistan to markets in the Arabian Gulf, Europe and as well as Central Asian nations – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
