TEHRAN (Tasnim) � Iran's anti-narcotics police forces managed to seize more than 2.5 tons of illicit drugs in three separate operations against drug smugglers in the southeastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan, the provincial police chief announced.

Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency, Brigadier General Hossein Rahimi said last night, after several days of continuous intelligence work, police forces in the city of Zahedan managed to locate a big haul of drugs.

During the overnight operation, anti-narcotics police forces seized 1,096 kilograms of opium and 6 kg hashish and arrested two drug dealers, who had criminal records.

He added that in another overnight operation in Iranshahr, law enforcement forces seized 590 kg opium and 285 kg hashish.

The commander added that in a separate operation on Friday morning in the city of Saravan, a five-member drug ring was disbanded and 510 kg opium were seized.

In recent decades, Iran has been hit by drug trafficking, mainly because of its 936-kilometer shared border with Afghanistan, which produces more than 90% of the world's opium.

According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the Islamic Republic is netting eight times more opium and three times more heroin than all other countries in the world combined.

The war on drug trade originating from Afghanistan has claimed the lives of nearly 3,700 Iranian police officers over the past three decades.
By Tasnim News Agency