Fuel smuggling continues in northern, eastern Iran – agency
Baztab web site, Tehran
12 Apr 05
The smuggling of fuel (under the name of solvents) has been spread
from the northern borders of the country to the southern borders,
Bazrab News Agency reports.
The report indicates that some organizations affiliated to a number of
influential people are smuggling a large quantity of fuel under the
name of gas-derivative solvents, to Armenia and other former Soviet
republics.
The fuel stored in metal barrels in cooperation with the Julfa
Standards Laboratory, is exported as chemical solvents.
As this route for smuggling became common knowledge, the smuggling of
fuel has shifted to the eastern borders of the country and a large
quantity of fuel has been sent to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The huge difference between the price of fuel in Iran and abroad has
led to smuggling of fuel with substantial illegal earnings.
The difference between a litre of gasoline, petrol and white spirit in
Iran and abroad is 2500 rials and for every barrel about 500,000 rials
and as a result of the officially-sanctioned smuggling 50 per cent of
the income is given to smugglers who enjoy special immunity.