$14 billion worth of goods smuggled into Iran annually

Azerbaijan, Baku, Jul. 9/ Trend, R. Zamanov/ Each year, about $14 billion worth of goods are smuggled into Iran, Deputy Industry, Mine, and Trade Minister Mohammad Sadeq Mofateh said on Tuesday. "About 80-90 percent of health and beauty products being sold in the country are brought in illegally," the Mehr News Agency quoted Mofateh as saying. He went on to note that Iran is also one the world's biggest markets for cigarettes smugglers. It is while due to sanctions, Iran's legal imports faced a 26 per cent decrease in the first quarter of Iranian calendar year (which started on March 21) compared to the same period of time previous year. "Smuggling has resulted in tax revenue losses equal to 18 trillion rials (some $545.5 million based on the free market price of USD)," Mofateh said. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az