Azerbaijan, Baku, Aug. 24 / Trend, N. Umid/
Iran's police have seized some 215 tons of narcotics including 1000 kilograms of methamphetamine during first five months of the current solar year (started on March 21), which indicates an increase by 25 percent compared the same period last year, ISNA news agency quoted Commander of the anti-drug squad of Iran's Police, General Ali Moayyedi as saying.
According to the report, some 40 smugglers were killed and 15 more were injured in confrontation with the police during the period. Seven police officers were killed in the mentioned period.
Moayyedi also went on to note that, some 172 drug production units have been destroyed by police during the first five months of the current solar year, which indicates an increase by 80 percent compared the same period last year.
Some 1100 drug smuggling bands have been dismantled during the period, he said.
Iran shares about 900 kilometers of a common border with Afghanistan, through which about 74 percent of opium is smuggled.
Iran lies on a major drug route between Afghanistan and Europe, as well as the Persian Gulf states. The Islamic Republic shares about 900 kilometers of a common border with Afghanistan, through which about 74 percent of opium is smuggled.
According to official estimates, fight against drugs annually cost Iran about $1 billion. The statistics also say that there are about 2 million of drug users in Iran.
It was reported that 500 tons of drugs were seized during the last solar year and 115 tons during the first 3 months of the current solar year.
Every year, Iran burns more than 60 tons of various seized drugs as a symbol of its determination to fight drugs.
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