Customs officials in Azerbaijan have seized more than 31 kilograms of hashish hidden within a shipment of watermelons. The operation was carried out by the Astara Customs Office of the State Customs Committee as part of comprehensive search and control measures to combat illegal drug trafficking.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing the Committee, a vehicle transporting watermelons was inspected at the "Astara" customs post. During a scan using a stationary X-ray unit, suspicious shapes were detected, prompting a thorough physical examination. With the assistance of a service dog, officials discovered 304 packages concealed beneath the fruit, totaling a net weight of 31.500907 kilograms of hashish.
Azerbaijan's strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia makes it a key transit point for international trade, but also a target for drug trafficking routes. The State Customs Committee has intensified its efforts in recent years, employing advanced scanning technology and canine units to secure the country's borders. The Astara border crossing, located on the frontier with Iran, remains a critical point for monitoring cargo entering the Republic of Azerbaijan. An investigation into the origin of the narcotics and the individuals involved is currently underway.
