TEHRAN Army's anti-smuggling special forces in armed clashes killed seven smugglers and armed bandits in eastern borders, Army Officer Birgadier General Mahmoudi said here Wednesday. He added that the armed bandits were Afghan nationals who intended to create havoc and insecurity in the border areas. Mahmoudi reiterated that the smugglers also intended to cross the border and haul a large caravan of narcotics into the country but they were nipped in the bud before carrying through with their plans.

He further said that large ammunition were confiscated from the traffickers and expressed the army's readiness to defend the country's borders. (IRNA)