Azerbaijani border guards open fire on suspected Iranian drug smugglers

Azerbaijani border guards opened fire on suspected drug smugglers attempting to cross from Iran via the Caspian Sea, killing one and injuring another, the State Border Service said on Thursday.

The incident took place on the night of May 1, when a high-speed vessel was detected 0.3 nautical miles off the coast near the Salyan sector of the Azerbaijani-controlled waters.

According to the statement, border forces issued visual and audio warnings and fired a warning shot. After the suspects ignored the legal demands and attempted to flee, live fire was used in line with Azerbaijan’s border law.

One of the suspects died in a medical facility despite emergency efforts, while the second is receiving treatment.

The vessel was found to contain 33.075 kilograms of marijuana, two Garmin GPS devices, and a Thuraya satellite phone. Preliminary findings identified the suspects as Iranian nationals: Garanijat Nouri Gurban Mohammad (b. 1985, injured) and Umuhammadi Behsad Saleh (b. 1990, deceased).

An investigation is ongoing.