Twenty people convicted of drug trafficking have been hanged in a prison in Karaj, a suburban city west of the Iranian capital.

According to Fars news agency, the drug traffickers were aged between 35 and 48 and had been arrested between 2004 and 2008.

Approximately 700 kilograms of drugs, comprising of heroin, cocaine and opium, was confiscated from the drug traffickers.

The majority of the drug traffickers already had criminal records, read the report.

Their cases were initially sent to an amnesty committee; however, their appeals were turned down by a majority of the votes.

Murder, rape, armed robbery and drug trafficking are among the crimes punishable by death under the Iranian law.

CS/HGH