Cross-Border Drug Trafficking from Pakistan on Rise: Iranian Commander
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The commander of Iran’s border police said the number of seizures of illicit drugs smuggled from neighboring Pakistan has largely increased.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Brigadier General Qassem Rezaei pointed to the recent activities of the border police regarding the fight against drug trafficking, saying that drugs seizures have decreased along the common borders with Afghanistan but increased near the Pakistani border.
During the current Iranian year (began on March 20), border guards have seized around 3,500 kilograms of various types of illicit drugs near the common borders with Afghanistan, while over 25,000 kg of narcotics have been seized along the Pakistani borders, the commander said.
He further said that on average Iranian border guards clash with drug smugglers three times a week along eastern borders of the country.
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.
