Iranian Police Intercept Huge Heroin Cargo En Route to Europe
Wednesday 02 Jan 2013
source: http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9107132205
TEHRAN (FNA)- A senior Iranian anti-narcotics police commander announced on Tuesday that the country's law enforcement troops have intercepted a big drug cargo which contained 2 tons of heroin and was bound for Europe, adding that the seizure is Iran's Christmas gift to the European people.
Speaking to reporters here in Tehran on Tuesday, Commander of the anti-narcotics squad of Iran's Law Enforcement Police General Ali Moayyedi said that Iranian police, in line with its international and religious undertakings, took the necessary actions to discover the cargo after its intelligent operations showed that 2 tons of heroin were to be transited to Europe.
"If the cargo had been smuggled to Europe it would have endangered all the European people and resulted in the destruction of the human community," the commander noted.
"In a bid to prevent this from happening, the cargo was discovered and seized and it can be said that the Iranian police has given a Christmas gift to the European people on the eve of the new year."
Eastern Iran borders Afghanistan, which is the world's number one opium and drug producer. Iran's geographical position has made the country a favorite transit corridor for drug traffickers who intend to smuggle their cargoes from Afghanistan to drug dealers in Europe.
Iran leads international efforts in fighting drug networks and narcotic traffickers.
According to the statistical figures released by the UN, Iran ranks first among the world countries in preventing entry of drugs and decreasing demand for narcotics.
The United Nations credits Iran with the seizure of 89 percent of the opium netted around the world.
Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the Iranian police have lost more than 3700 of their personnel in the country's combat against narcotics.