Iranian Drug Dealers Arrested in Armenia

[Mos]

Re: How does everyone feel about Israel?

You're like the Pepsi Addict of politics and global affairs.

Why? All I'm saying is that you can't blame Europeans for the world's drug problems.

[KanadaHye]

Re: How does everyone feel about Israel?

I still don't think capital murder is a solution to that - and with that you can't blame "Europeans" for all the drug problems either. Everybody is benefiting from the drug trade that be the growers to the consumers. Drugs are universal, doesn't matter where you're from, you will get addicted if exposed.

You're like the Pepsi Addict of politics and global affairs.

[Mos]

Re: How does everyone feel about Israel?

For first time offenders no. For second time offenders no. 3 strikes, you're out. I suppose you can be set up once or twice but 3 times means you're the problem.

I still don't think capital murder is a solution to that - and with that you can't blame "Europeans" for all the drug problems either. Everybody is benefiting from the drug trade that be the growers to the consumers. Drugs are universal, doesn't matter where you're from, you will get addicted if exposed.

[KanadaHye]

Re: How does everyone feel about Israel?

Oh come on, be realistic. So let me get this straight, it's the European's fault that this is happening because they don't have death executions for drug dealers? Are you sure that's the path you want to go down?

For first time offenders no. For second time offenders no. 3 strikes, you're out. I suppose you can be set up once or twice but 3 times means you're the problem.

[Mos]

Re: How does everyone feel about Israel?

That would be a good start.

Oh come on, be realistic. So let me get this straight, it's the European's fault that this is happening because they don't have death executions for drug dealers? Are you sure that's the path you want to go down?

[KanadaHye]

Re: How does everyone feel about Israel?

So only Europeans in the world use drugs? Should Europeans give death sentences for drug dealers like Iran?

That would be a good start.

[Mos]

Re: How does everyone feel about Israel?

Written in 2002... blame your European friends.

So only Europeans in the world use drugs? Should Europeans give death sentences for drug dealers like Iran?

[KanadaHye]

Re: How does everyone feel about Israel?

At a minimal level - it should be done more tough to ensure such people don't get in.

Written in 2002... blame your European friends.

THE HEROIN ROUTE FROM AFGHANISTAN TO EUROPE

Iran loses its drugs war
Most heroin sold in Europe comes from Afghanistan’s poppies. Drugs cross the permeable border with Iran on their way to Turkey and Europe despite Iran’s desperate efforts, costing many lives, to combat trafficking at the border. Europe doesn’t help Iran with the cost of policing, and does even less to finance Afghan farmers to plant alternative crops.

Zahedan is the capital of Seistan-Baluchistan province, at the eastern edge of Iran, bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan. At first sight it seems an ordinary oriental town, with a lively bazaar, broad avenues jammed with traffic and poor neighbourhoods on its outskirts. But this is misleading. Zahedan is a vital staging post for international drug smuggling. In streets placarded with posters of Ayatollah Khomeini, army trucks and smugglers’ four-by-fours squeeze past each other. As evening falls men in all-terrain vehicles sell opium and heroin to local buyers. But the real action goes on in the desolate valleys and hills outside the town.

At night Baluchi smugglers set off for Afghanistan loaded with jerrycans of petrol, which is worth 10 times more there. They return with illegal immigrants. After being harassed by the authorities and exploited on Iranian building sites, some find their way as far as Europe. They represent a secondary trading line for the smugglers, who are more interested in drugs. The Pashtun provinces of Helmand, in the south, and Nangarhar, in the north, are the centres of opium production in Afghanistan. Some is turned into heroin in rudimentary laboratories in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Taking the southern route, after a detour via Pakistan, the drugs enter Iran along tracks that smugglers have used for centuries, carried by car or motorbike, on foot, or in convoys of dozens of four-by-fours with escorts bristling with cell phones, night-vision goggles, Kalashnikovs, rocket launchers and even United States-made Stinger missiles. The flow of drugs across the Iranian border is unstoppable. There are even caravans of camels that know the route so well they no longer need to be led. Each animal can transport up to seven tonnes of drugs. At traditional celebrations, the camels are fed opium to make them dance.

Baluchis, who are Sunni, ignore borders and are distributed across Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Baluchi society is based on clan loyalties and some groups have been smuggling between the three countries for centuries. Some have triple nationality. For many drug smuggling has become the only possible livelihood since drought has affected the area for several years. A high-ranking Iranian official, involved in the fight against drug-running, says "they are just ordinary people". Traditional Baluchi leaders condemn the use of drugs, which is infecting Iranian society (see The enemy within). They are less concerned about smuggling, a source of income for local notables. In Baluchistan there is no need to pressure people to help: clan ties are strong enough. The Afghan brigands who run opium along the northern route in Khorasan province regularly kidnap local people.

The smugglers risk the death penalty if they are caught carrying more than 30 grams of heroin or five kilos of opium. In March 2001 five smugglers, including a woman, were hanged from a crane in a Teheran square early one morning. In 2000, 900 were killed. Drug-related offences account for more than 80,000 of Iran’s prison population of 170,000. Every year Iranian police and customs detain thousands of first-time smugglers who attempt to conceal opium, heroin, hashish or morphine in the soles of their shoes, furniture, toothpaste tubes, electrical appliances, video cassettes and bank notes.

http://mondediplo.com/2002/03/13drug

[Mos]

Re: How does everyone feel about Israel?

Shared border operations likely already exist - I'd be surprised if they didn't. The smugglers from Afghanistan and Iraqi-Kurdistan are getting very sophisticated though.

At a minimal level - it should be done more tough to ensure such people don't get in.

[Persopolis]

Re: How does everyone feel about Israel?

This can be a joint Armenian-Iranian effort to make sure the border is secure and you don't have such trafficking going on.

Shared border operations likely already exist - I'd be surprised if they didn't. The smugglers from Afghanistan and Iraqi-Kurdistan are getting very sophisticated though.