IRANIAN POLICE KILL 35 DRUG SMUGGLERS

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iranian police have killed 35 drug smugglers and seized
more than a ton of drugs during raids in southern Iran, a newspaper said
Wednesday.

The evening daily Kayhan said troops and police carried out the raids in
remote mountainous areas in Kerman province over the past few days.

Brig. Gen. Ali Eashaqi, a local police commander, said his forces would
take action against residents who provided the smugglers with food, water,
and fuel, it said. Eshaqi said authorities would carry out economic
programs in the poor region to create alternative sources of income.

Iranian officials say there are half a million drug addicts in the country
of 60 million. Local media have put the number at up to one million.

Iran is a key transit route for drugs smuggled from Afghanistan and
Pakistan, the ``Golden Crescent,'' to Europe and oil-rich Gulf Arab states.