Iran burns 100 tons of illicit drugs on intl. anti-drug day

Iran has been used as the main conduit for smuggling illicit drugs from its eastern neighbors to drug kingpins in Europe.

According to the United Nations, Iran ranks first among all countries in the world in shutting down drug routes into its territory.

In response, the Iranian government has spent millions of dollars to seal its borders and prevent the transit of illicit drugs destined for European, Middle Eastern, and Central Asian countries.

During a ceremony in Tehran, Deputy Police Chief Ahmad Reza Radan criticized the lack of international resolve to fight the production and trafficking of illicit drugs.

While 3,700 Iranian security forces have been martyred in clashes with drug smugglers over the past three decades, other countries are only issuing statements in this regard, he said.

He also criticized the West for its lack of cooperation with Iran in providing the country with the necessary equipment to fight drug trafficking and the fact that it has tightened sanctions against the Islamic Republic.