Azerbaijan thwarts drug shipment from Iran PHOTO

The Azerbaijani State Border Service has prevented the smuggling of over 12 kg of drugs from Iran.

On June 21, at 22:20, the border guards prevented the smuggling of drugs in the “Lankaran” border detachment, Caliber.Az reports.

In compliance with the Law of the Azerbaijan Republic on the State Border, weapons were used as a warning to the trespassers, who ignored the requirement of the border guard to stop.

The trespassers abandoned their cargo and took advantage of the difficult terrain to flee back to the Iranian territory.

As a result of search operations, 12 kg 760 g of narcotics (10 kg 705 g of marijuana and 2 kg 55 g of opium) were found.

The criminal case is currently being investigated.

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 in 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.