Azerbaijani border forces have foiled an attempt to smuggle drugs into the country using a drone launched from Iran, according to a statement from the State Border Service, as reported by Azernews.
The incident occurred in the Lankaran region, where border guards monitoring the “Lankaran” border detachment zone detected the movement of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near the border line. The drone entered Azerbaijani airspace, dropped a small package, and then returned to Iranian territory.
Acting quickly, authorities initiated a response under the “Weapon” alert protocol. The area was secured, and a search operation was launched.
Two Azerbaijani citizens were detained in connection with the incident. Anar Rasim oglu Hasanov (born 1988), a resident of Lankaran, was caught at the drone’s drop site. Razim Mahyaddin oglu Huseynov (born 1985), from Gubadli, was apprehended in a nearby vehicle.
During questioning, both men admitted they were there to collect the package, which contained 4.5 kilograms of marijuana. Authorities confirmed that both individuals had prior criminal records.
Investigations are ongoing, and Azerbaijani officials emphasized their continued commitment to combatting cross-border smuggling, especially as UAVs become an increasingly common tool for drug trafficking operations.
