Seven drug smugglers killed in Iran

Photo: Seven drug smugglers killed in Iran

Seven drug smugglers were killed and seven other arrested during a clash with Iranian police, state television reported Monday.

Authorities also seized 300 kilograms (661 pounds) worth of narcotics during the clashes late Sunday in the Khaf region in Khorasan Razavi province, about 1,200 kilometers (746 miles) east of the capital, Tehran, the report said.

The area, close to the Afghanistan border, has been the scene of frequent clashes between police and drug smugglers. The TV report said that drugs such as opium, hashish and heroin were among the seized narcotics.

Also Monday, the television said that police has detained several petty drug traders in an overnight crackdown in Tehran. The report did not elaborate but video footage broadcast on television showed special forces police detaining the smugglers at night.

Iran lies on a major drug route between Afghanistan and Europe, as well as the Persian Gulf states, and confiscation of large amounts of narcotics is common.

Every year, Iran burns more than 60 tons of seized narcotics as a symbol of its determination to fight drugs.