Discovery of 10 Tons of Various Drugs in Iran; 7725 Arrested in One Week

On Tuesday, October 2, a representative from the Drug Control Headquarters announced the discovery of over 10 tons of various drugs and psychoactive substances during the first week of October, stating that 7725 individuals have been arrested in connection with this. According to Fars News Agency, Asadollah Hadi-Nejad, Deputy for Supply Reduction and International Affairs at the Drug Control Headquarters, specified that the amount of drugs discovered was "10 tons and 504 kilograms," with the largest volume being opium at "8309 kilograms, which constitutes 79% of the total seizures." He also reported that "868 kilograms of hashish, 595 kilograms of heroin, 224 kilograms of morphine, eight kilograms of crystal meth, and 497 kilograms of other substances" were seized during this period. Hadi-Nejad noted that these drugs were discovered during 1491 operations, with an average of "seven kilograms per operation." He further reported the seizure of 38,872 psychoactive pills across Iran, with the highest number, 35,733, coming from Fars Province. Additionally, "330 liters of precursor materials" were discovered, with "300 liters of that in West Azerbaijan Province." According to him, 75% of these seizures were concentrated in six provinces, with the largest amount, 1670 kilograms, found in Kerman Province, which he stated is "equivalent to 16% of the total seizures in the country." Other provinces following Kerman include Fars with 1451 kilograms, Sistan and Baluchestan with 1331 kilograms, Isfahan with 1299 kilograms, Hormozgan with 1225 kilograms, and Tehran with 899 kilograms. The report also indicates that 7725 individuals were arrested in connection with these drugs during the first week of October. Among them, 148 were traffickers, 3360 were distributors and street sellers, and 3524 were "open drug users." In Iran, it is not uncommon for police officials to announce drug seizures and arrests related to these substances weekly. The Customs Supervisor of Hormozgan Province reported on October 6 the discovery of over seven million psychoactive pills that had entered the Shahid Rajaei Port from an "Asian" country. On July 15, the Mehr News Agency also reported the seizure of 16 tons and 121 kilograms of various drugs and psychoactive substances over a two-week period, according to the Deputy for Supply Reduction and International Affairs at the Drug Control Headquarters. However, despite the volume of these seizures, arrests, and even death sentences, there has been no reduction in drug trafficking or addiction in Iran.