Iranian authorities confiscate six tons of heroin

By Muhammet Kursun

TEHRAN (AA) - The Iranian authorities on Tuesday seized six tons of heroin in Iran’s Western Azerbaijan province, local security officials have said.

According to a press statement released by Iran’s intelligence directorate, the drugs were reportedly en route to buyers in Europe when they were confiscated.

The statement went on to note that 11 foreign nationals had been arrested during the seizure operation.

Due to its strategic location, Iran serves as a transit hub for drug traffickers moving from Afghanistan to Europe.

Therefore, the Iranian authorities generally seize vast quantities of illegal narcotics each year.

Sadeq Larijani, the head of Iran’s judiciary, said Tuesday that 70 percent of Iranian prison inmates had been convicted for drug-related crimes.

Yahya Kemalpur, a member of the Iranian parliament’s legal committee, recently called for the release of all Afghan prison inmates, citing Iran’s overcrowded detention facilities.

*Ali Murat Alhas contributed to this report from Ankara