BIRJAND -"Iranian Police have killed 10 bandits and drug traffickers in Nahbandan, in the northeastern Province of Khorasan that has a border with Afghanistan, over the past 24 hours, Provincial Police Chief Mohammad Reza Eshaqi, said here Wednesday.

"The police also injured six other bandits who are currently on the run", he said, adding that they seized six AK-47 automatic rifles, a machinegun as well as a Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG-7) launcher from the drug traffickers.

Iran has major security concerns in its eastern borders with Afghanistan, where bandits abound and drug traffickers kidnap local people for ransom or to force them to sell drugs, said IRNA.

thr 034 iran-security-bandits /gnr/ police kill 10 bandits in northeastern iran birjand, july 31, irna -- iranian police have killed 10 bandits and drug traffickers in nahbandan, in the northeastern province of khorassan that has a border with afghanistan, over the past 24 hours, provincial police chief mohammad reza eshaqi said here wednesday.

the police also injured six other bandits who are currently on the run, he said, adding that they seized six ak-47 automatic rifles, a machinegun as well as a rocket-propelled grenade (rpg-7) launcher from the drug traffickers.

iran has major security concerns in its eastern borders with afghanistan, where bandits abound and drug traffickers kidnap local people for ransom or to force them to sell drugs.

the country lies on the international drug trade route originating from afghanistan and pakistan and stretching as far as the persian gulf states, europe and beyond.

iran also accounts for 80 percent of the opium and 90 percent of the morphine intercepted in the world, according to the international narcotics control board.

official reports say more than 3,100 iranian police officers have lost their lives in drug-related battles throughout iran over the past 20 years.

iran's anti-drug campaign costs the country some 800 million dollars per year, according to an official report.