Iranian security forces have arrested nine members of a family network, all followers of the Baha’i faith, over a host of charges, including medicine-related offenses, the Intelligence Ministry announced.
The Iranian intelligence ministry made the announcement in a statement on Sunday
The ministry said that 40 pharmacies and warehouses were also seized.
It said one Baha’i family in Tehran was found to “overtly and covertly” own “20 pharmacies, three cosmetic companies, and multiple unauthorized warehouses”.
According to the intelligence ministry, members of the family have carried out “various kinds of violations and crimes, including smuggling and hoarding medicine, fraud, money laundering through intricate methods and tax evasion”.
Evidence also shows potential involvement of foreign elements and certain sects in the case, the statement said.
It noted that the network has been also collaborating with a number of corrupt physicians who overprescribed medications to patients or urged patients to procure prescriptions from specified pharmacies.
Earlier the Iranian forces had identified 20 secret warehouses belonging to the family where smuggled and hoarded drugs and other hygiene and cosmetic products have been stockpiled.
