Colonel Hassan Ebrahimi stated in an interview with Mehrnews: Officers stationed at the Shahid Sharafat checkpoint in Naein County, while inspecting passing vehicles on the main roads, became suspicious of a truck and stopped it for a more thorough examination.

He added that after conducting legal coordination and a specialized inspection of the vehicle’s cargo area, the officers successfully discovered three Asian black bear cubs, which traffickers had professionally concealed under sacks of pistachios.

The police commander of Naein County emphasized the sensitivity of protecting rare animal species, noting that the Asian black bear is considered a valuable and threatened wildlife species in the country, and trafficking these animals causes irreparable damage to biodiversity.

He continued that one suspect was identified and arrested, and after a case was filed, they were referred to the judicial authority for legal proceedings.

Colonel Ebrahimi highlighted that the discovered bear cubs were handed over to the Department of Environmental Protection for care, treatment, and specialized monitoring to ensure their health is preserved.

He stressed the police’s firm stance against wildlife traffickers, stating that through intelligence oversight, continuous monitoring of main roads, and thorough inspections of passing vehicles, the police will not allow opportunists who threaten the country’s natural resources and rare species to operate.