Iran arrests illegal immigrants at Pakistan border

Iranian security forces have arrested 18 Pakistani nationals at southeastern Taftan border as they were trying to pass through the country and cross into Turkey in pursuit of a better life in Europe.

The arrested immigrants are currently being questioned and will be deported from Iran, once the legal proceedings are completed, a Press TV correspondent reported late on Saturday.

Gullible and poor Pakistanis are duped by human traffickers, who promise to take them to Europe or drop them off along the 1,600-km coastline of Oman by sea route, via Iranian ports.

Over 40,000 illegal Pakistani immigrants were deported from Iran between 2002 and 2007.

The modus operandi of human trafficking involves sending the illegal immigrants across the border to Iran on foot or by vehicles and from Iranian ports in small boats to the Persian Gulf states.

Iran, however, is determined to fight illegal immigration and human trafficking.