The Deputy of Food and Drug at Alborz University of Medical Sciences announced the closure of 38 herbal shops and the arrest of 9 individuals in this province on charges of selling alcoholic beverages. According to Fars News Agency, Jalal Ghafarzadeh announced this news on Sunday (June 6) and mentioned that 50% of herbal shops in Alborz province are operating 'illegally.' Ghafarzadeh added that inspections of 225 herbal shops in Alborz province resulted in the closure of 38 shops, the arrest of 9 individuals, and the formation of 150 legal cases in this regard. This official stated that some herbal shops in Iran have become a 'serious threat to the health and culture of society.' According to the head of the Medical Basij Organization in Alborz province, these herbal shops offer 'various narcotics and industrial psychoactive compounds.' As Ghafarzadeh noted, 'the sale of flavored alcohols' has become a common practice for some of these shops. On June 8, the Deputy of Food and Drug at Alborz University of Medical Sciences also stated that some herbal shops 'mix homemade drugs with very dangerous compounds and present them in capsule form.' The wave of closures of herbal shops in Iran has significantly increased in recent months following the sale of some substitute compounds for narcotics. Due to the rising prices of various narcotics in Iran, especially opium, drug traffickers are mixing their existing opium with 'lead,' leading to widespread poisoning among addicts in Iran. Another group of addicts, who cannot afford narcotics, are turning to herbal shops to obtain similar substances, with reports of the side effects of these drugs emerging. In this context, '70 individuals were arrested at a private party' in a restaurant in Farahzad, recent arrests in 'cleaning single homes' and 'night parties' in Semnan and Kerman, 'several lawyers were arrested at a night party in Mahmoudabad,' and the closure of 29 restaurants and the confiscation of over a thousand vehicles in Karaj over the past year.
Closure of 38 Herbal Shops Accused of Selling Alcoholic Beverages
Authorities in Alborz province have closed 38 herbal shops and arrested 9 individuals for selling alcoholic beverages and narcotics. This crackdown highlights the illegal activities of many herbal shops and the growing public health concerns related to drug use in Iran. The situation reflects broader issues of drug trafficking and addiction in the country.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Iranian authorities closed 38 herbal shops in Alborz for selling alcohol and narcotics.
- Alborz University of Medical Sciences close 38 herbal shops
- Alborz University of Medical Sciences arrest 9 individuals
- Alborz University of Medical Sciences form 150 legal cases
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The closure of herbal shops indicates a crackdown on illegal drug sales in Iran.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%