Pubdate: Fri, 13 Jul 2001
Source: Times of Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan)
Copyright: 2001 The Times of Central Asia
Section: Asia
Contact:  http://www.times.kg/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1202

DRUG SEIZURE DECLINES IN BORDER PROVINCE

MASHHAD, Khorassan Prov., Deputy governor general of eastern border 
Khorassan said seizure of illicit drugs has decreased by 45 percent in the 
first quarter of the current (Iranian calendar)year (starting March 21) 
compared to the same period last year.

Hussein Zare-Sefat told IRNA that some 6.2 tons of drugs had been 
confiscated from the drug runners in the first three months of the current 
year while the figure stood at 11.2 tons last year.

"This year 5,225 kg of opium and 176 kg of heroin were part of the drug 
seizures," he said adding that the seizures of hashish has risen to 438 kg 
in the first quarter of the year showing a 174 percent increase compared to 
the same period last year.

Iran is a major transit route in the international drug trade. Drugs 
originating from Afghanistan or Pakistan are clandestinely ferried via Iran 
to markets in the Persian Gulf, Europe and onward.

The government has armed thousands of villagers along its eastern border to 
help combat this illegal trade that has now extended to the abduction of 
residents for ransom or other purposes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager