13 Smuggled Luxury Cars to be Destroyed in Iran

The Director General of the Anti-Smuggling Organization of the Government Trading Organization has announced the destruction of 13 luxury cars including Benz S500, BMW, Porsche, and Range Rover for the first time in Iran. According to a report on Sunday (August 14), Abdolmajid Ejtahadi stated that these cars will be 'destroyed and eliminated' this week in Fars Province. Ejtahadi cited the legal prohibition on their sale under 'current regulations' in Iran as the reason for their destruction, adding that 'exporting them is also not feasible.' The destruction will be carried out in coordination with the State Property Organization, the Central Headquarters for Combating Smuggling of Goods and Currency, the Government Trading Organization, and the Judiciary. This official added that the 13 cars were smuggled into the country last year by 'the accused' and 'through unofficial borders.' He mentioned that some of these cars had been sold, but 'through necessary follow-ups, the issue was discovered and the case was addressed by the Government Trading Organization.' According to this official, 'the accused in this case has been sentenced to pay a fine of 14 billion tomans.' Qasem Khorshidi, spokesman for the Headquarters for Combating Smuggling of Goods and Currency, stated yesterday to the Tasnim news agency that these 13 cars 'will be sold as scrap metal after destruction.' Khorshidi mentioned that these cars will be destroyed according to the regulations outlined in Articles 55 and 56 of the Anti-Smuggling Law. In defense of this decision, he added that 'the re-entry and redistribution of discovered smuggled goods into domestic markets will harm the people.' The imminent destruction of these 13 luxury cars comes after Ali Khamenei on August 2 of this year urged responsible officials to 'burn smuggled goods in front of everyone when they are found.' The turnover of smuggled goods and currency in Iran is equivalent to 25 billion dollars, which is three times the country's development budget, with smuggled luxury cars being part of it. Some members of parliament have stated that free trade zones have become 'official smuggling routes' and 'places for storing consumer goods.' Ahmad Mohammadi Anaraki is among the representatives who have criticized the performance of these zones, stating that the Economic Commission of Parliament will examine the issue of smuggling imports from these routes. According to Fars news agency, Mohammadi Anaraki added on Sunday, August 14, that while 'the leadership has ordered the burning and destruction of smuggled goods, unfortunately, these goods are still entering the market through various means.'