MASHHAD, Khorasan Province A total of five international drug smuggling rings were busted in provincial cities of Birjand, Tabas, Torbatjam, Nahbandan, Khaf, Sarakhs, Taibad, Torbat Heydarieh, Kashmar and Gonabad over the past two weeks. Commander of the provincial Law Enforcement Forces Brigadier Feneral Bahram Nowruzi told IRNA here on Wednesday that his forces also seized 4,311 kgs of drugs, including 2,062 kg of morphine and heroin and 2,249 kg of opium and hashish in the busts.

Six smugglers were killed, three wounded and 48 arrested during armed clashes with the rings, he added. Nowruzi said that two law enforcement officers were martyred while five others were injured during the operations. A total of 39 guns and grenades, 3,000 rounds of ammunition and 63 vehicles used by the smugglers were also seized, Nowruzi added. (IRNA)