Pubdate: Thu, 09 Sep 2004
Source: Cyprus Mail, The (Cyprus)
Copyright: Cyprus Mail 2004
Contact:  http://www.cyprus-mail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/100
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

EXECUTED TRAFFICKERS 'USED CYPRUS AS STEPPING STONE'

THREE drug traffickers hanged in Iran this week were believed to have used 
Cyprus as a stepping stone for export to American and Europe.

Three Iranian men were hanged in prison in Tehran on Tuesday for drug 
trafficking, according to the Iranian Student News Agency (ISNA).

According to reports from ISNA and Iranmania.com, two brothers Kamran and 
Keivan Razaghi and Amin Janati-Tabar had been sentenced to death after 
being convicted of purchasing and selling almost 20,000 kilos of heroin and 
cocaine.

The Razaghi brothers and Janati-Tabar were linked with drug trafficking to 
countries such as Canada, the United States, Pakistan, Turkey, Greece and 
Italy but were also alleged to have imported drugs from Afghanistan for 
distribution in Iran.

They were also linked to the export of drugs via Cyprus to Asian, European 
and American markets.

According to the CIA, Iran remains a key transshipment point for Southwest 
Asian heroin to Europe despite substantial interdiction efforts.

Cyprus is considered a minor transit point for heroin and hashish via air 
routes and container traffic to Europe especially from Lebanon and Turkey.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D