RASC News Agency: Iranian security authorities have announced the arrest of two individuals accused of orchestrating a series of organized robberies targeting Afghanistani migrants in Semnan Province. The suspects, according to police officials, disguised themselves in Iranian police uniforms to carry out repeated assaults and thefts against vulnerable foreign nationals.
Brigadier General Seyed Ali Mir Ahmadi, acting commander of the Semnan Police Department, confirmed during a Tuesday press briefing (October 29) that the suspects were apprehended in a special operation following multiple reports of theft. “Valuables worth approximately 3.5 million tomans, along with amounts of foreign currency including US dollars and euros, were seized from the perpetrators,” he stated.
Mir Ahmadi added that the men are linked to at least eight separate cases of theft, each involving the impersonation of police officers to stop and “inspect” vehicles belonging to Afghanistani migrants before stealing their belongings.
“These individuals exploited the trust placed in law enforcement,” Mir Ahmadi explained. “They intercepted vehicles carrying foreign residents, conducted fake searches, and confiscated money and personal items under the guise of official operations.”
According to the commander, the arrests followed weeks of investigation by the provincial Criminal Investigation Department after a string of similar complaints from both Iranian citizens and Afghanistani migrants. “Our specialized teams worked around the clock to identify the suspects, ultimately detaining them in the province of Qom,” Mir Ahmadi noted.
Authorities have confirmed that the judicial process remains ongoing, and further investigations could reveal additional cases connected to the same network.
Iranian domestic media outlets have corroborated the reports, noting that the majority of victims were Afghanistani migrants, a population that continues to face escalating social, economic, and security challenges across Iran particularly in the central and northern provinces.
This incident has reignited growing concerns over the systematic exploitation of Afghanistani refugees, who have become easy targets for abuse, harassment, and extortion. Human rights advocates have urged Iranian authorities to increase oversight and accountability mechanisms to protect foreign nationals from such crimes.
Meanwhile, observers point out that the plight of Afghanistani migrants is rooted in the Taliban’s catastrophic mismanagement and repression at home, which has forced millions to flee Afghanistan in search of safety and survival. Since the Taliban’s violent takeover of Kabul in 2021, economic collapse, insecurity, and persecution have driven unprecedented migration, leaving refugees vulnerable to exploitation abroad.
Humanitarian experts warn that without legitimate governance, justice, and employment opportunities inside Afghanistan, the outflow of desperate Afghanistani citizens and their exposure to criminal predation will only intensify.
