Azerbaijan thwarts major drug smuggling from Iran PHOTO

Azerbaijan has foiled the smuggling of 53 kg of drugs from Iran into the country, the State Border Service has reported.

As part of the ongoing measures to ensure the Azerbaijani state borders' reliable protection, and fight against illegal drug trafficking, the State Border Service destroyed 1,200 kg of wild cannabis and prevented 52.88 kg of drugs, 3,240 pieces of psychotropic pills and 42.16 kg of medicines from being smuggled from Iran to Azerbaijan, Caliber.Az reports, quoting the State Border Service.

At 03:50 on June 12, a border patrol serving in the area of the border outpost near Yardimli District's Deman village noticed a violation of the state border from Iran in the direction of Azerbaijan by three unknown persons.

As a result of the operational measures carried out, the smugglers threw packages on the ground and, taking advantage of the rugged terrain, fled back in the direction of Iran. During the chase, one of the border violators took advantage of the darkness and disappeared into the nearest settlement. Currently, investigative measures are continuing to identify the person and bring him to justice.

As a result of border search measures carried out in this territory, substances similar to narcotic drugs with a total weight of 8.8 kg (1 kg of opium, 7.8 kg of marijuana), 700 tablets "Methadone-40" with psychotropic composition were found and seized in four bags hidden between rocks and dense thickets and 42.1 kg of various medications.

At 18:30 on June 19, a border patrol serving in the area of the border outpost located near Bilasuvar District's refugee settlement No. 8 found traces of the state border violation in the direction of Iran-Azerbaijan. As a result of the carried out operational measures, 24.2 kg of narcotic drugs (23.7 kg of marijuana, 400 g of heroin, 100 g of methamphetamine), and 1,200 "Pregabalin" tablets hidden in two bags were found and seized.

As a result of complex operational search and preventive measures carried out at 11:00 on July 4, 1,713 cannabis bushes with a total weight of 1,200 kg were collected and destroyed in Zangilan District's Burunlu village adjacent to the border.

At 00:15 on July 7, a border patrol serving in the area of the border outpost near Fuzuli District's Bala Bahmanli village observed one man violating the state border in the direction of Azerbaijan.

As a result of the search activities carried out on the territory, substances similar to narcotic drugs with a total weight of 4.335 kg (1.335 kg of opium and 3 kg 20 g of marijuana) were found and seized in one black package.

At 14:00 on July 8, a border patrol serving in the area of the border outpost near Astara District's Hamusham village detected signs of violation of the state border in the direction of Iran to Azerbaijan.

As a result of operational military measures, at about 17:30 near Astara District's Diguli village, Agstafa District resident Famil Musayev, 30; Baku resident Mirali Aghalarov, 30; and Fuzuli District resident Asar Aliyev, 24, were detained. During the examination of two waist bags, 6.62 kg of marijuana and 1,340 units of psychotropic substances were seized.

During the investigation, it was established that Tovuz District resident Vugar Mammadov, driver of a white Niva car with the state license plate number 99-KE-484, and Gobustan District resident Nijat Mansurlu, arrived at the border territory to meet those abovementioned persons and assist them in transporting the smuggled drugs.

At 13:15 on July 11, a border patrol serving in the area of the border outpost near Zangilan District's Vejnali village found signs of violation of the state border in the direction of Iran-Azerbaijan. As a result of the operational measures carried out, 8.9 kg of marijuana were found and seized in a package hidden among the bushes.

Operational and investigative measures are continuing over the abovementioned cases.