Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29
By Umid Niayesh – Trend:
Iranian police seized some 8.3 metric tons of various illegal drugs in the capital city of Tehran during the first five months of the current fiscal year (March 21-Aug. 22), Tehran Police Chief Brigadier Hossein Sajedinia said.
The figure indicates a rise by 33 percent compared to the same months of preceding year, the police chief said, the country’s Mehr news agency reported Aug. 29.
In the meantime 20,130 people have been arrested in Tehran on drugs-related charges, Sajedinia said, adding the figure includes 1673 drug-consumers.
In the 5-month period, 184 professional smugglers were arrested as well, the police commander added.
Iran is situated on a major drug route between Afghanistan and Europe, as well as the Gulf States. The Islamic Republic shares about 900 kilometers of common border with Afghanistan, over which 74 percent of opium is smuggled.
It was reported that some 490 metric tons of drugs were seized in the country during the last fiscal year (ended on March 20).
The fight against drugs annually costs Iran about $1 billion, according to the official estimates. The statistics also say there are about two million drug users in Iran.
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