Intelligence Forces Bust Drug Ring Southeast of Iran
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s intelligence forces smashed a major drug ring in the southeastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan.
Following intelligence activities and in cooperation with the Border Police, the forces of the Intelligence Ministry in Sistan and Balouchestan busted the major drug ring in the city of Hirmand.
A number of narcotics smugglers were arrested in the operation.
The security forces seized 982 kilograms of illicit drugs, including opium and crystal meth, and confiscated a number of narcotics-laden vehicles.
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 four decades.