TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran's Police Chief Brigadier General Esmayeel Ahmadi Moqaddam reiterated Tehran's tight control over the country's borders, saying the armed forces are keeping a watchful eye on every suspicious move along the borderline."We dont have any problem at the borders; yet terrorists are always seeking to come to the borders to smuggle drugs and explosives. But today the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and the Law Enforcement Police are making strenuous efforts in Saravan region (in the Southeastern Sistan and Balouchestan province) to further improve people's security," Ahmadi Moqaddam said in press conference in the Northeastern city of Mashhad on Saturday.
In relevant remarks in August, Iranian Interior Ministry Spokesman Hossein Ali Amiri also stressed full control over the country's borders, and said the terrorists active in Iraq, including the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), did not dare to pose a threat to Iran.
"Given the regional conditions, good measures have been planned for the common borders with the neighboring countries, specially Iraq," Amiri said. He said Iran's border was not under the threat of the ISIL, and added, "This lack of concern doesnt mean a lack of vigilance as the current conditions necessitate us to be precise and vigilant."
General Ahmadi Moqaddam further underlined due to the same control over the borders, drug traffickers have decreased their operations.
"On average 50 tons of drugs are discovered in the country each month and of course this amount has decreased since the beginning of this year due to the sealing of the borders and increased drug prices," he responded.
Iran lies on a major drug route between Afghanistan and Europe as well as the Persian Gulf states.
Eastern Iran borders Afghanistan, which is the world's number one opium and drug producer. Iran's geographical position has made the country a favorite transit corridor for drug traffickers who intend to smuggle their cargoes from Afghanistan to drug dealers in Europe.
Iran spends billions of dollars and has lost thousands of its police troops in the war against traffickers. Owing to its rigid efforts, Iran makes 89 percent of the world's total opium seizures and has turned into the leading country in drug campaign.
According to official estimates, Iran's battle against drugs cost the country around $1 billion annually. Strategies pursued by Tehran include digging canals, building barriers and installing barbed wire to seal the country's borders, specially in the East.
Due to the Iranian police's tight control over land borders, drug-traffickers have been making an increasing use of waterways in the last few years. Tehran has repeatedly asked the regional states to launch comprehensive cooperation to stop drug-trafficking via sea routes.
By Fars News Agency
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