57% Increase in Seizures of Smuggled Goods Worth Over 500 Million Tomans

On Tuesday, October 3, the head of the Criminal Investigation Police of the Law Enforcement Force announced a 57% increase in cases of smuggled goods worth over 500 million tomans in the first five months of 2017 compared to the same period last year. According to the state news agency IRNA, Mohammad Reza Moqimi also stated that cases involving smuggled goods valued between 100 to 500 million tomans have also increased by 50% during this time. He noted a 32% increase in the monetary value of the seized cases, mentioning that 'the discovery of cases over 100 million tomans increased by 50%, while cases under 100 million tomans saw a 9% increase.' According to this police official, after 'computer equipment, hygiene products account for the most smuggled goods' in Iran, and 'during this period, the monetary value of hygiene product cases increased by 132%.' The head of the Criminal Investigation Police called for 'fundamental measures' to prevent and combat the smuggling of petroleum products, adding that in the first five months of the current year, police forces 'managed to seize nearly 20 million liters of smuggled petroleum products, reflecting a 53% increase compared to the same period last year.' Mohammad Reza Moqimi also reported a 27% increase in the seizures of fireworks in the first five months of this year compared to the same period last year, with a monetary value increase of over 120%. As stated by this police official, the Law Enforcement Force has prioritized the fight against smuggling of goods and currency, focusing on the discovery of large shipments and dismantling organized smuggling crime. He announced the establishment of a center for combating organized smuggling within the Criminal Investigation Police, stating that the goal of this center is to 'monitor and identify major smugglers and legally address smuggling crimes and related networks in the processes of entry, transfer, storage, and supply.' These statements come as Qasem Khorshidi, spokesman for the headquarters for combating smuggling of goods and currency, reported in July of this year that the volume of smuggling in Iran has reached 12.6 billion dollars, indicating a decrease in this figure compared to previous years. Prior to him, a spokesman for the Judicial Commission of the Parliament stated that 'some state entities' are directly or indirectly involved in smuggling goods. Hassan Noorouzi mentioned 'rent-seeking' and 'the existence of special connections' as two factors contributing to smuggling of goods and currency in Iran, adding that 'some individuals profit from their previous experiences in the field of smuggling goods and currency into the country.' In Iran, numerous reports are published annually regarding the discovery and confiscation of various smuggled goods and currency at the country's entry points, but the exact and official figure for this volume of smuggling is not available. According to officials, Iran currently has 150 customs offices, through which a significant amount of smuggling occurs. Smuggling has become one of the most important economic issues and symbols of 'corruption' in the country, and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, has called for the 'burning' of smuggled goods in response to the continuation of this situation.