Irans counternarcotics police chief Brigadier General Ali Moayyedi says the Islamic Republic has managed to uncover and dismantle a major international drug-smuggling gang.Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Moayyedi said that Irans counternarcotics police began operations to identify the network six months ago.
With the cooperation of the UAE police, the measures led to the identification and dismantling of this international and intricate mafia drug-trafficking gang working along the Persian Gulf, he added.
Ten main gang members were identified and arrested and more than seven tons of drugs were also confiscated during the operation, he went on to say.
According to the official, members of the ring smuggled heroine to Western countries, hashish to the Persian Gulf littoral states and opium to Iran.
Moayyeri also said that Irans counternarcotics police have managed to confiscate 215 tons of different types of drugs, including opium, hashish and heroine, during the first five months of the current Iranian year (started March 20).
He added that Irans drug busts have increased by 25 percent compared to a similar period one year ago.
Iran, which has a 900-kilometer common border with Afghanistan, has been used as the main conduit for smuggling Afghan drugs to kingpins in Europe.
Despite high economic and human costs, the Islamic Republic has been actively fighting drug trafficking over the past three decades.
Iran has spent more than USD 700 million to seal the borders and prevent the transit of narcotics destined for European, Arab and Central Asian countries.
The war on drugs originating from Afghanistan has claimed the lives of nearly 4,000 Iranian police officers over the past 34 years.
By Press TV
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