400 smuggling gangs have been smashed over the first 6 months of the current Iranian year

Commander of Police Department for Campaign against Smuggling of Goods and Foreign Exchange announced on Sunday that 400 smuggling gangs have been smashed over the first 6 months of the current Iranian year (March 2010-March 2011).

Colonel Fathollah Zamanian said that 53,000 smugglers were also arrested in this period.

A series of operations have been carried out to stem the trafficking of alcoholic drinks and cigarettes, he noted.

The colonel added that two operations have also been carried out against trafficking of oil products.

He went on to say that police plan to perform operation against the smuggling of fireworks in the next 6 months.

In last year (March 2009-March 2010) police also confiscated goods worth over 650 million dollars, smashed 32 smuggling gangs, and arrested 87,000 smugglers, he explained