TEHRAN – The Iranian Intelligence Ministry has managed to arrest members of a silver smuggling band in East Azarbaijan province, Mehr reported.

In a statement on Sunday, the ministry announced that it has arrested 9 individuals for smuggling Chinese silver ornaments from Iraq into Iran.

The illegal activities of the smugglers have resulted in the closure of a number of workshops producing silver products in Iran, the statement said.

The arrested smugglers have confessed that they have illegally imported some 23 tons of silver-made jewelry during the past five years, it added.

MH/PA