Tasnim � The Iranian intelligence forces managed to smash two major international drug rings in the southeastern province of Kerman, capturing more than two tons of illicit drugs from the smugglers.


In two separate operations in the Kerman Province, the intelligence forces identified the members of the two drug gangs, who had entered the country from the desert border areas in the southeastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan.

During the operations, over two tons of opium and hashish, as well as four combat weapons, were seized from the smugglers.

Four criminals were also arrested and five vehicles were seized in the operations.

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 35 years.