Police Commander of Sistan and Baluchestan: The Largest Drug Trafficker Arrested Since the 1979 Revolution

Officials of the Islamic Republic have reported the arrest of 'one of the international drug traffickers' who has confessed to transporting '800 tons of drugs.' According to these officials, he has connections with over 10 'international drug trafficking networks.' The police commander of Sistan and Baluchestan referred to this individual as 'the largest drug trafficker since the 1979 Revolution' and reported that more than 300 people who were 'under his guidance' and operated in smuggling gangs have also been arrested. According to the state news agency IRNA, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, Iran's Minister of Interior, announced on Tuesday, September 1, that the individual who had 'imported 800 tons of drugs' has been arrested and 'has confessed to his criminal activities.' Mr. Rahmani Fazli stated that this individual was connected with '14 international drug networks.' The Minister of Interior did not mention the name of this individual. Hussein Rahimi, the police commander of Sistan and Baluchestan, also referred to this individual as 'the largest drug trafficker since the 1979 Revolution' in Iran and stated that he began his activities 'professionally' in 1992. According to Mr. Rahimi, more than 300 people who were 'under his guidance' and operated in smuggling gangs have also been identified and arrested. According to Tasnim news agency, this police official announced that this individual resided in Iran and 'personally' traveled in the provinces of Sistan and Baluchestan and Kerman. The police commander of Sistan and Baluchestan also reported the identification of 'billions of tomans in assets and properties' belonging to this individual in various parts of Iran. Additionally, according to ISNA, Masoud Zahedian, head of the anti-drug police, stated that this individual was 'one of the main elements importing drugs' into Iran and 'one of the main connections with international trafficking networks.' According to Mr. Zahedian, this individual has been active in the trafficking route from Afghanistan to Iran for 'over 20 years' and has 'supported more than 10 international gangs.' This police official added: 'Intelligence forces in the police have been monitoring this individual for over two years with continuous intelligence work and finally succeeded in arresting him while he had 800 tons of drugs.' The statements from Islamic Republic officials regarding the arrest of this individual along with this amount of drugs come at a time when previously police officials had announced the total drug seizures in 2015 to be around 540 tons. Reports indicate that Iran, due to its borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan, is one of the transit routes for drugs. In this regard, Ashraf Ghani, the President of Afghanistan, stated in an interview with the Etelaat newspaper on December 24, 2014, that 'at least 40 percent of the heroin' produced in Afghanistan reaches 'other countries through Iran.' In Iran, the death penalty is imposed for drug trafficking in certain quantities. However, some government officials and members of parliament in Iran believe that the death penalty has not been a deterrent for drug-related crimes. In this context, there are 'four thousand and five hundred' unresolved death penalty cases in Iran. 'Eight addicts die daily in Iran.' Iran, Europe, and 'drug diplomacy.' Continued discovery of Iranian heroin shipments in Europe. School students and women at risk of addiction. Warning about the distribution of opium contaminated with lead in Iran. The UN's request to Iran to stop executing drug crime convicts.