KABUL, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Afghan security forces have arrested 144 people over attempting to cross the border and sneak into the neighboring Iran illegally, a statement of the national army in the western region said Sunday.
According to the statement, two suspected human traffickers are also among the detainees who were arrested by the army personnel stationed in the western Herat province of Afghanistan.
Aimed at strengthening border security and preventing unlawful movement across the frontiers, the security forces would continue such operations, the statement asserted.
Previously, the security forces also arrested 202 individuals along the border with Iran over attempting to sneak into the neighboring country a couple of weeks ago.
Although hundreds of Afghan refugees return from Iran daily to their homeland Afghanistan, numerous Afghans leaving for Iran illegally everyday to escape poverty and unemployment in their post-war country.
The Afghan government has vowed to check human trafficking and illegal crossing to the neighboring states. ■
