Some 300 tons of contraband worth 120 billion rials ($3.3 million at market exchange rates) were destroyed in several provinces across the country on Wednesday. The illegally imported goods included foodstuff, dietary supplements, fruit, clothes and cosmetics, according to Iran’s Headquarters for Combating Smuggling of Commodities and Foreign Currency, ISNA reported. The government has stepped up efforts to curb smuggling that cost the country a whopping $15 billion last year, down by $10 billion compared to the year before. The Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration says it seized contraband worth 600 billion rials ($16.8 million) during the first four months of the current Iranian year (started March 20), registering an 80% rise compared with the same period of last year. In mid-August, the headquarters destroyed 400 tons of smuggled goods worth 150 billion rials ($4.24 million) in what was said to be the largest destruction of contraband in Iran in 38 years.
