IRANIAN & M'SIAN POLICE TEAM UP TO CRACK DOWN ON DRUG SMUGGLING

KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 (Bernama) -- After a hike in the number of Iranians
caught for allegedly smuggling drugs into Malaysia in the first three months
this year, Iranian and Malaysian police have pledged to further boost
cooperation to crack down on drug traficking.

Iran Narcotics Department Director Hamid Reza Hossein Abadi said that the
authorities of both countries would work more closely together to stamp out the
drug smuggling activities by keeping each other updated and conducting joint
training, he told a press conference at the Iranian embassy here Thursday.

On Wednesday, Hamid had met Malaysia's Federal Narcotics Department director
Zulhasnan Najib Baharuddin to discuss problems about the drug smuggling
activities and how to overcome it.

"It was a fruitful meeting. We are of the view that from now the situation
will get better, and the cooperation will get better," he said.

In the first two months this year, more than 40 Iranians have been arrested
for alleged drug smuggling, especially methamphetiamine or syabu, compared to
only 24 for the entire year last year.

The increase in the number was due to the high price syabu fetched in
Malaysia, Hamid said.

He said that syabu was smuggled into Iran, which became a transit point, and
smuggled out to Asia, mainly China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan and Malaysia,
where it can fetch five times the price than in Iran.

It is understood that the market price of syabu in Malaysia stood at
RM250,000 (US$73,529) per kg compared to RM50,000 (US$14,705) in Iran.

"Last year we arrested about 400 people allegedly carrying drugs bound
for Southeast Asia, he said.

Hamid said that these people were roped in by international syndicates who
paid them between US$2,000 to US$3,000 and also provided them with free air
tickets and a free holiday in another country for a few days.

"These people are mainly poor, unemployed and had little education," he
said.

Among the Iranians arrested in Malaysia recently, several have been charged
with drug traficking, which carries the death penalty upon conviction.
-- BERNAMA


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