Iran's War on Narcotics: Iran Sets Fire to Tons of Illicit Drugs

TEHRAN (FNA)- Tons of illicit drugs were set on fire in Iran's Northern province of Alborz on Wednesday to mark the international day of drug campaign.
During the ceremony held in the provincial capital city of Karaj, five tons of different types of narcotics were set on fire.

Several top provincial officials, including Governor-General of Alborz Eisa Farhadi and the provincial police chief, were present at the ceremony.

Every year, Iran destroys several tons of narcotics throughout the country to mark the national week of drug campaign.

Setting fire to the drug cargos seized from traffickers is a symbolic act carried out more than twice a year in different parts of the country.

Iran is close to the world's number one opium producer, Afghanistan, and drug-traffickers view this region as the start of a transit route to drug markets in Europe.

Tehran has always complained about the EU and other international bodies' lack of serious cooperation with Iran in the campaign against drug trafficking from Afghanistan.

During the last Iranian year (ended on March 20,) Iran seized more than 400 tons of opium smuggled from Afghanistan.