The Iranian law enforcement police squads have seized over 17 tons of different types of illicit drugs in the country's Southern province of Hormozgan on the rims of the Persian Gulf in the past 5 months, a provincial police chief announced on Tuesday, August 30.

Hormozgan's Police Chief General Mohammad Ali Akhoundi told reporters that his forces have seized 17,572kg of different types of narcotics during the first five months of the current Iranian year (started on March 21).

The commander stated that the seizures included 12,527kg of opium, 4,149kg of hashish and other types of illicit drugs.

Akhoundi stressed that police have also disbanded 70 drug rings and arrested 1,534 drug-traffickers and dealers during the said period, Fars New Agency reported.