TEHRAN, Jun 24 (NNN-IRNA) – At least 17 people have died, after drinking counterfeit alcohol, in the northern Iranian province of Alborz, over the past 11 days.
Some 191 people, suffering from poisoning symptoms, were referred to the province’s hospitals in this period, of whom four are still hospitalised, Alborz Province’s Chief Justice, Hossein Fazeli Herikandi, was quoted as saying, yesterday.
So far, the provincial police have arrested nine suspects, including two, who were captured in the past two days, Fazeli Herikandi added.
He noted that, the arrestees have been involved in either producing the counterfeit toxic alcohol, through adding water and other solutions to methanol, or its distribution.
The owner of a hairspray production factory, in Eshtehard County, in Alborz was found “illegally” selling the industrial-grade alcohol, used in producing the toxic alcoholic drinks.
Last week, local media reported that, about a dozen died and scores of others poisoned, during the preceding days after drinking “counterfeit toxic” alcohol in Alborz.
Producing, selling and drinking alcoholic beverages are considered illegal in Iran.– NNN-IRNA