Azerbaijan foils another Iranian network's heroin smuggling attempt PHOTO/VIDEO

Azerbaijani police officers have detained members of an Iranian drug smuggling network in the capital Baku.

The apprehension was followed by an anti-drug trafficking operation conducted by officers of Baku's Narimanov district police department, the Interior Ministry's press service told Caliber.Az.

Police officers detained Elmar Mamishov, a previously convicted Baku resident and about 5 kg of heroin were seized from him.

In another operation, Niyazi Guliyev, Nazim Novruzov and Ziya Zakirov were detained and handed over to investigators for organising the illegal sale of drugs in the capital. During a search, 2 kg of heroin was found in their possession.

The detainees reported that they had purchased drugs from Iranian nationals named Rza and Milad through social media for the purpose of further distribution and were involved as drug couriers.

Investigators from the police department opened a criminal case against the detainees, and the investigation is ongoing.

Drug smuggling from Iran's territory has increased in recent months. Azerbaijan has faced numerous drug-trafficking attempts, all of which have been foiled.

After liberating its lands from Armenia's occupation in a 44-day war with Armenia in 2020, Azerbaijan restored control over the 132 km section of the Azerbaijan-Iran border.

Drugs are traditionally smuggled from Afghanistan into Iran and from there into Azerbaijan. Taking into account the geographical location of our country, drug traffickers try to smuggle drugs into European countries along the Balkan route by transit through Azerbaijan.