In Iran, 100 tons of drugs set alight

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran burned at least 100 tons of illicit drugs Wednesday, some in a Tehran ceremony attended by officials and foreign dignitaries, to highlight what it says are its unsupported efforts to stem the flow of narcotics across its territory to Europe.

Officials at the burning, an annual occurrence marking the U.N. International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, accused the West of failing to back it in interdicting drug traffic that Iranians they said was driven by European addicts.

Iran lies on a major trafficking route between Afghanistan and Europe, as well as Persian Gulf states where the confiscation of large amounts of narcotics is common.

Gen. Ahmad Reza Radan, a top Iranian police commander, criticized the West for its lack of cooperation with Iran, saying Western nations deny Tehran equipment needed to fight drug trafficking.

Radan said more than 3,700 Iranian troops have been killed and 12,000 others injured in the fight against drug trafficking in the past three decades.

Iranian officials in the past have threatened to allow the transit of illegal drugs through its territory to Europe if the West continues its noncooperation or criticizes Iran for its practice of executing drug traffickers.

European countries and allies say they are active in the region, including in Iran’s neighbors, trying to battle the opium trade and the flow of other drugs.

Front Section, Pages 6 on 06/27/2013

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