TEHRAN -- The director general of the Ardebil Customs Office, Golamreza Maleki, said on Sunday that a great deal of smuggled goods, valued at Rls3.234 billion, have been seized by Ardebil Customs during the first nine months of the current Iranian year (started March 21, 2001).

According to Maleki, the value of the goods seized during the first nine months of the year shows a 54 percent decrease compared to last year's figure.

He said that satellite receivers, wine, motorcycles, electronic equipment, bananas, clothing, cosmetics, sun glasses, artificial flowers, china, gum, and musical equipment were among the items seized.

Ardebil Province has a 380-kilometer border with the Republic of Azarbaijan. The province has customs offices in Bilehsavar and Ardebil.