Three Iranian policemen have been killed in a shootout with armed bandits in southeastern Iran, a police officer said Wednesday.
Captain Kazem Hashem-Abadi told the official Iranian news agency (IRNA) that the policemen were killed two days ago in the Souran region of the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan.
He said one drug-trafficker was killed and five others arrested, adding that several assault rifles as well as rounds of ammunition were also seized.
Iran is a major route for drugs originating from Afghanistan or Pakistan on their way to markets in the Arabian Gulf, Europe and other countries.
The Iranian government spent nearly $20 million last year in the fight against drug trafficking, and has armed thousands of villagers along its eastern border to help combat traffickers.
Official reports say 3,100 Iranian police officers have lost their lives in drug-related battles throughout Iran over the past twenty years – Albawaba.com
