33 SMUGGLERS ARRESTED, 1.7 TONS OF DRUGS SEIZED

Tehran, Aug 24, IRNA -- Police forces arrested 33 smugglers and seized
1,737 kgs of various illegal drugs from them in separate operations
conducted in different parts of the country in recent days.

The arrests were made in ten operations carried out by the Anti-drug
forces in Sistan and Baluchestan, Isfahan, Kerman and Khorassan provinces.

Iran sits on the crossroads of major drug trafficking routes and has
been a major force in the global battle against illicit drugs.

According to official estimates, anti-drug campaign costs Iran about
dlrs 800 million annually.

It is credited with 80 percent of the opium and 90 percent of the
morphine intercepted worldwide by the International Narcotics Control
Board.