TEHRAN, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Iranian security forces killed five drug smugglers and seized 1,900 kg (4,180 pounds) of narcotics in the southeastern province of Kerman, state broadcaster IRIB reported on Friday.

The clash between Iranian forces and drug traffickers happened near the city of Jiroft on Thursday night, IRIB said.

The southeast of Iran, near Pakistan and Afghanistan, is a major smuggling route for drugs and other contraband. More than 3,300 Iranian security personnel have died in the region fighting drug smugglers since the country's 1979 Islamic revolution. (Writing by Zahra Hosseinian; Editing by Michael Winfrey)

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