Arrests at Kermanshah Customs Following '15 Trillion Toman Violation'

While Tasnim News Agency reports the arrest of ten employees of the 'Parviz Khan' customs in Kermanshah province and several others on charges of '15 trillion toman violations', the manager of this customs confirmed the arrests but described reports of 'widespread violations' as 'speculation'. On Friday, September 2, Tasnim reported the arrest of ten employees of the 'Parviz Khan' customs for allegedly facilitating the illegal entry of two thousand containers of goods and aiding in the smuggling of over 800 tons of white alcohol into the country. The news agency stated that these individuals have 'squandered over 15 trillion tomans of government rights'. According to the report, these individuals are being held in Dizelabad prison in Kermanshah, and a bail of 'over 200 billion tomans' has been set for them. Morad Mohammadi, the manager of 'Parviz Khan' customs, stated that these 'violations' occurred in 2012 and 2013 during the previous administration and that this case was initiated following a complaint from the customs. He mentioned that the main charge in the case is related to 'violations in the export of a product'. Fars News Agency reported the total value of the alcohol shipment in this case to be 1.8 billion tomans. Mr. Mohammadi, without detailing the 'violations' of the arrested employees, referred to reports of 'widespread violations' as 'speculation' and stated that this case will be completed in the coming days. Official reports have consistently identified customs and free trade zones as one of the main routes for the entry of smuggled goods into Iran. Meanwhile, on August 19, several media outlets reported that the 'largest smuggling shipment' in the last six years was discovered at Shahid Rajaei port in Bandar Abbas, leading to the arrest of 11 employees from the customs and ports organization. Following this, Saeed Asadi, the public prosecutor and revolutionary prosecutor of Bandar Abbas, announced that after the discovery of smuggled containers in the city, 22 employees from companies 'contracted with the ports and customs' were summoned and charged, with six of them arrested and the others released on bail. Smuggling in Iran has become one of the most significant economic problems 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. On the other hand, some military, security, and governmental institutions are named as the main actors in the smuggling of goods and currency in the Islamic Republic; however, no official authority has yet been willing to disclose the names of these institutions.