Azerbaijan detains Iranian boat for alleged drug smuggling
The incident has added to tense ties between Iran and Azerbaijan, in part due to the Baku’s ties to Israel and Tehran's support to Armenia.
Azerbaijani authorities detained Iranian sailors on Monday, accusing them of illegally crossing the border and carrying drugs.
Azerbaijan’s State Border Service said in a statement that they stopped a boat manned by two Iranian citizens traveling south in the Caspian Sea near Alat, located south of the capital Baku. The crew allegedly entered Azerbaijani waters illegally. The service further alleged that it found more than 20 kilograms of marijuana in bags they attempted to discard into the sea.
The Iranian embassy in Baku did not immediately comment.
Why it matters: The incident adds to Iran and Azerbaijan already complicated ties. In February, Iran expressed concerns about border clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Iran has historically enjoyed warm relations with Armenia amid the Eurasian country’s territorial disputes with Azerbaijan.
