Iran's police seize over 6.7 tons of drugs

Iranian border guards discovered and seized over 6.7 tons of different types of narcotics last (Iranian) month (i.e. from December 22, 2011 to January 20, 2012). "Last month, the border guards managed to prevent the smuggling of 6.795 tons of different types of drugs into the country," Lieutenant Commander of Iran's Border Guard Forces General Ahmad Gravand told reporters on Wednesday. He also appreciated the Iranian border guard forces for discovering and confiscating 653 weapons from the traffickers at the borders of the country. Iran lies on a major drug route between Afghanistan and Europe, as well as the Persian Gulf states. 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.