Azerbaijan's State Customs Committee (SCC) has thwarted an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of narcotics through the country's southern border, officials reported. During a targeted operation at the Astara customs post, officers discovered and seized more than 63 kilograms of marijuana hidden within a commercial shipment of kiwi fruit.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing the committee, the discovery was made at the "South-Astara" customs checkpoint during a thorough inspection of a vehicle transporting the fruit. Customs officials utilized a stationary X-ray scanner and a service dog from the canine unit to identify the illicit substances. Upon physical inspection, officers found 63 kilograms and 790 grams of marijuana packaged using specialized methods to evade detection within the crates of kiwi.
The Astara border crossing serves as a critical transit point on the International North-South Transport Corridor, connecting Azerbaijan with its southern neighbors. Azerbaijani law enforcement and customs authorities have significantly intensified their surveillance and technical capabilities in recent years to combat international drug trafficking. An investigation into the incident is currently underway to identify the individuals involved in the smuggling attempt.
