Kakavand emphasized the need to expand interactions and cooperation between the two countries in the field of anti-narcotics, ISNA reported.

Referring to Rask terrorist attack that led to the martyrdom of 11 policemen he stated since terrorist groups and drug traffickers are connected in the region, it is necessary for the two sides to fight against drug traffickers more decisively and purposefully by expanding collaboration, exchanging information and conducting joint operations.

Pointing to the geographical position of Iran and Pakistan, as neighboring countries of Afghanistan, Kakavand said it is essential to improve the level of interactions between the two countries by holding bilateral meetings and border meetings as well.

By adopting common positions in international forums, the two countries can be introduced as main forces to combat illicit trafficking in the international arena, he added.

Rehman Malik, for his part, stressing the need to enhance cooperation and sharing information in the filed of the fight against drug trafficking, called it necessary for the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) to support Iran and Pakistan as forefront countries in the fight against narcotics.

Iran, Pakistan discuss enhancing security along borders

On November 21, Iran and Pakistan stressed the need to boost security along borders in a bid to promote relations and improve coordination between the two neighboring countries.

The Islamic Republic of Iran fights hard against drug smugglers and prevents them from entering the region, the commander of the Iranian border guards said.

“We are pleased to hold the second joint border meeting of Iran and Pakistan since it affects the two countries’ relations, ” IRNA quoted Brigadier General Ahmad-Ali Goudarzi as saying.

He made the remarks in a meeting with Rear Admiral Imtiaz Ali, the director general of the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA).

The Iranian official said former joint meetings have had a significant impact on border security relations. “These meetings should continue to be held with the focus on improving maritime security and fighting drug trafficking, as the main objectives.”

Global support essential in fight against narcotic

On October 8, Kakavand, in a meeting with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) representative in Tehran, Alexander Fedulov, called it essential to support Iran in the fight against drug trafficking.

During the meeting, Fedulov said the Islamic Republic of Iran has always been committed to a serious and decisive fight against narcotics at the regional and global level, IRIB reported.

Iran has spent a huge sum of money fighting the war on drugs, and apart from that, many anti-narcotics forces have sacrificed their lives in this way. The high number of martyrs and injured shows Iran’s serious determination to deal with this scourge, the UN official added.

“Considering the fact that the Islamic Republic of Iran is at the forefront of the fight against drug trafficking, the UNODC and the international community support of Iran should be proportionate to the activities and actions at the regional and global level.”

He stated since new smuggling routes and concealment methods are emerging, it is necessary for the anti-narcotics police to be equipped with new detection equipment and tools. Needless to say, the UNODC in Tehran plays a prominent role in providing some of these tools.

Kakavand, for his part, highlighted the need to promote regional cooperation and said, “The Anti-Narcotics Police of Iran has always announced its readiness to collaborate and improve cooperation with all the countries in the region and the world to eradicate narcotics.”

Holding meetings with the anti-narcotics police of Pakistan and Afghanistan in the form of a tripartite initiative in previous years is a strong proof of this claim, he noted.

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During the meeting, which was held on Saturday, Fedulov said the Islamic Republic of Iran has always been committed to a serious and decisive fight against narcotics at the regional and global level, IRIB reported.

Iran has spent a huge sum of money fighting the war on drugs, and apart from that, many anti-narcotics forces have sacrificed their lives in this way. The high number of martyrs and injured shows Iran’s serious determination to deal with this scourge, the UN official added.

“Considering the fact that the Islamic Republic of Iran is at the forefront of the fight against drug trafficking, the UNODC and the international community support of Iran should be proportionate to the activities and actions at the regional and global level.”

He stated since new smuggling routes and concealment methods are emerging, it is necessary for the anti-narcotics police to be equipped with new detection equipment and tools. Needless to say, the UNODC in Tehran plays a prominent role in providing some of these tools.

Kakavand, for his part, highlighted the need to promote regional cooperation and said, “The Anti-Narcotics Police of Iran has always announced its readiness to collaborate and improve cooperation with all the countries in the region and the world to eradicate narcotics.”

Holding meetings with the anti-narcotics police of Pakistan and Afghanistan in the form of a tripartite initiative in previous years is a strong proof of this claim, he noted.

Iran at the forefront

On June 25, Fedulov said Iran should provide other countries of the world with its experiences in dealing with narcotics.

“The successful experiences of Iran’s anti-narcotics police in the field of combating drug transit should be made available to all countries in the region and the world in different ways,” he added.

The international community, while becoming more familiar with the countermeasures of the Islamic Republic of Iran, should provide more support for the fight against narcotics in this country, the UNODC official stressed.

Fedulov referred to the strengthening of the Joint Planning Cell (JPC) and conducting joint activities with other countries in the fight against drug trafficking as effective countermeasures and emphasized the need to boost cooperation.

In June 2022, Fedulov said UNODC attaches special importance to the regional and global role of Iran in the fight against narcotics and, as a leading United Nations agency, wishes to provide practical assistance to the Government of the Islamic Republic.

The UNODC Office attaches special importance to the regional and global role of the Islamic Republic in the fight against narcotics, and the discovery of narcotics by the law-enforcement forces of Iran shows the country’s efforts with the United Nations beyond the regional level, he explained.

“UNODC’s current counter-narcotics program includes “Border Management and Trafficking”, “Drug Prevention, Treatment, Rehabilitation, and HIV Care” and “Alternative Development and Sustainable Livelihoods”, ISNA reported.

The second area of our cooperation is reducing the demand for drugs. I should mention that the areas of cooperation include increasing the capacities of service providers, piloting a capable family program; implementing a bio-dynamic plan prevention program, and establishing a regional center for the treatment of drug addicts.

UNODC has also provided items, including body scanners, installed at Imam Khomeini International Airport to help detect drugs,” he stated.

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“The successful experiences of Iran’s anti-narcotics police in the field of combating drug transit should be made available to all countries in the region and the world in different ways,” Fedulov added.

He made the remarks in a meeting in Tehran on Sunday with Iraj Kakavand, Iran’s anti-narcotics police chief, IRNA reported.

The international community, while becoming more familiar with the countermeasures of the Islamic Republic of Iran, should provide more support for the fight against narcotics in this country, the UNODC official stressed.

Fedulov referred to the strengthening of the Joint Planning Cell (JPC) and conducting joint activities with other countries in the fight against drug trafficking as effective countermeasures and emphasized the need to boost cooperation.

Kakavand, for his part, said the Islamic Republic of Iran has always been decisive and serious in the field of dealing with narcotics at the regional and global level, and the proof of this claim is more than 4,000 martyrs in this way.

“Since the country is at the forefront of the fight against narcotics, the level of support from UNODC and the international community should be proportionate to the activities and actions at the regional and global level.”

In June 2022, Fedulov said UNODC attaches special importance to the regional and global role of Iran in the fight against narcotics and, as a leading United Nations agency, wishes to provide practical assistance to the Government of the Islamic Republic.

The UNODC Office attaches special importance to the regional and global role of the Islamic Republic in the fight against narcotics, and the discovery of narcotics by the law-enforcement forces of Iran shows the country’s efforts with the United Nations beyond the regional level, he explained.

“UNODC’s current counter-narcotics program includes “Border Management and Trafficking”, “Drug Prevention, Treatment, Rehabilitation, and HIV Care” and “Alternative Development and Sustainable Livelihoods”, ISNA reported.

The second area of our cooperation is reducing the demand for drugs. I should mention that the areas of cooperation include increasing the capacities of service providers, piloting a capable family program; implementing a bio-dynamic plan prevention program, and establishing a regional center for the treatment of drug addicts.

UNODC has also provided items, including body scanners, installed at Imam Khomeini International Airport to help detect drugs,” he stated.

By resolution 42/112 of 7 December 1987, the General Assembly decided to observe June 26 as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.

The theme of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2023 is “People first: stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention.”

MG

Photo: Fedulov addresses the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Tehran on 26 June 2022.

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Iran is also known as the first station and the front line of dealing with all kinds of drugs due to its location on the European transit route of Afghan drugs.

Some 1,080 tons of narcotics were discovered in the country over the last Iranian calendar year (March 2021-March 2022), an increase of 14 percent year on year.

Europe is the largest customer of narcotics. According to official and unofficial reports, more than 70 percent of the drugs produced in Afghanistan are sent to European countries for various purposes.

Statistics show that 92 percent of opium drug discoveries are made by and in Iran, which shows the heavy weight of the country to keep not only the region but the world safe.

According to international organizations, Afghanistan has been known as the hub of drug production in the world since 1992 and only three years after the withdrawal of the Soviet Union forces from this country.

Afghanistan, which shares a 945-kilometer border with Iran, produces about seven thousand tons of traditional drugs every year, and this amount is minus industrial materials such as glass and other narcotics.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the production of opium in 2021 has increased by eight percent compared to 2020 in Afghanistan, reaching 6,800 tons, IRNA reported.

Meanwhile, according to official reports of Iranian authorities, in addition to the production of opium, the production of glass has increased in Afghanistan after the Taliban came to power.

The deputy head of the anti-narcotics headquarters has recently said that due to the political and governance changes in Afghanistan as the main hub of opium production, the increase in the production and trafficking of the crystal drug has become a serious concern.

That is while Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has issued a decree banning the cultivation of poppy and other types of narcotic plants in Afghanistan.

Need for international support

The Iranian officials have emphasized several times that the budgetary and financial capacity of the country are not enough to fight against drugs and this amount of work, and the continuation of dealing with this issue requires international support.

Eskandar Momeni, the secretary general of the anti-narcotics headquarters, announced last week that the bill to amend the anti-narcotics law will be submitted to the parliament.

This issue shows the determination of the government to fight the scourge of drug addiction.

Referring to the international aid to deal with the drug transit network, Momeni said that during these years, the Islamic Republic has been alone in the field of fighting narcotics.

“So far, there has been no support, especially in the financial field, from international organizations to deal with drug transit, and the entire burden of this responsibility is on the shoulders of Iran, which considers itself culturally, religiously, and humanly responsible,” Momeni lamented.

“They not only do not help Iran in this field, but sometimes they throw a spanner in the works.”

During the 65th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs which took place in March 2022 in Vienna, Austria, Momeni called on the United Nations to present a comprehensive and effective action plan to curb opium cultivation and production and to address the destructive problem of narcotics.

Criticizing that despite numerous UN documents and the constant emphasis on the principle of shared responsibility, Iran has had the least amount of international support, despite its global anti-narcotics actions, hosting more than a few million refugees and fighting terrorist threats in the region, he noted that it is time for the United Nations to present a comprehensive and effective action plan to curb opium cultivation and production to address the devastating problem of narcotics.

He also addressed the issue of unilateral sanctions against Iran, saying that the actions of some countries in imposing harsh sanctions against Iran, politicizing international cooperation, and disrupting Iran’s relentless struggle against international drug networks is a clear violation of international law, human rights, and UN resolutions.

At the end, Momeni made suggestions to the Commission to reduce challenges and enhance international efforts to address narcotics trafficking, including, full financial, technical, and equipment support to countries at the forefront of combating international drug and psychotropic substances trafficking.

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Security forces in the Mirjaveh Border Regiment obtained clues of the intention of drug traffickers to enter the country, and with careful operations, succeeded in discovering the narcotics shipment, commander of border guards Ahmad Ali Goudarzi said.

In this operation, while seizing a vehicle, 827 kilograms of various drugs, including 567 kilograms of opium and 260 kilograms of hashish were confiscated from smugglers, he stated.

Meanwhile, border guards in Khorasan Razavi province discovered 182.5 kilograms of narcotics that had been placed in a car.

The anti-narcotics police discovered 1,200 tons of various drugs during the past [Iranian calendar] year (March 2020-March 2021), which is two-folded compared to the recent years, Eskandar Momeni, the director of headquarters for the fight against narcotics, said on June 26.

Iran is the leading country in the fight against narcotics worldwide; despite its proximity to Afghanistan, which is the largest producer of narcotics, he explained.

According to the UN Office, the Islamic Republic’s continuous efforts to combat narcotics trafficking came up with the seizure of more than 90 percent of opium, 70 percent of morphine, and 20 percent of world heroin.

‘Common understanding, global action’

Iranian deputy anti-narcotics police chief Naqi Mahmoudi has stressed that the drug trafficking fight requires a common understanding and action by all members of the international community, and no country alone can address the challenges in this area.

Despite the conditions caused by the coronavirus outbreak and the imposition of harsh sanctions against the country, fortunately, with the efforts of anti-narcotics police in 2020, drug detection increased by 41 percent.

After the Islamic Revolution (in 1979), 3,800 were martyred, 12,000 were wounded and disabled in the fight against drug trafficking.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has praised Iran’s efforts to fight against narcotics trafficking on the occasion of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

The organization also officially announced that the world’s first place in the discovery of opium, heroin, and morphine belongs to Iran.

According to UNODC, Iran remains one of the major transit routes for drug trafficking from Afghanistan to European countries and has had a leading role at the global level in drug-control campaigns.

UNODC World Drug Report 2020 estimates that in 2018, 91 percent of world opium, 48 percent of the world morphine, and 26 percent of the world heroin were seized by Iran.

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Max Daniel, the drugs portfolio holder of the Dutch police force, held an online meeting on Sunday with the Iranian anti-narcotics police chief Majid Karimi, discussing challenges facing the battle against the drug trade.

The Iranian police official, for his part, presented a report on activities to seize narcotics and restrict the transit of narcotics, calling on the Netherlands to help disband smugglers.

Iranian anti-narcotics police discovered 1,200 tons of various drugs during the past [Iranian calendar] year (March 2020-March 2021), which is two-folded compared to the recent years, Eskandar Momeni, the director of headquarters for the fight against narcotics, said on Saturday.

Iran is the leading country in the fight against narcotics worldwide; despite its proximity to Afghanistan, which is the largest producer of narcotics, he explained, IRIB reported on Saturday.

The country has also carried on a battle against narcotics in spite of being highly affected by cruel sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic, he added.

“Last year, more than 1,200 tons of various drugs were confiscated, which shows a decrease in drug trafficking and transit to Europe,” he highlighted.

According to the UN Office, the Islamic Republic’s continuous efforts to combat narcotics trafficking came up with the seizure of more than 90 percent of opium, 70 percent of morphine, and 20 percent of world heroin.

Need for action by global community

Iranian deputy anti-narcotics police chief Naqi Mahmoudi has stressed that the drug trafficking fight requires a common understanding and action by all members of the international community, and no country alone can address the challenges in this area.

Despite the conditions caused by the coronavirus outbreak and the imposition of harsh sanctions against the country, fortunately, with the efforts of anti-narcotics police in 2020, drug detection increased by 41 percent.

After the Islamic Revolution (in 1979), 3,800 were martyred, 12,000 were wounded and disabled in the fight against drug trafficking.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has praised Iran’s efforts to fight against narcotics trafficking on the occasion of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

The organization also officially announced that the world’s first place in the discovery of opium, heroin, and morphine belongs to Iran.

According to UNODC, Iran remains one of the major transit routes for drug trafficking from Afghanistan to European countries and has had a leading role at the global level in drug-control campaigns.

UNODC World Drug Report 2020 estimates that in 2018, 91 percent of world opium, 48 percent of the world morphine, and 26 percent of the world heroin were seized by Iran.

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Iran is the leading country in the fight against narcotics worldwide; despite its proximity to Afghanistan, which is the largest producer of narcotics, he explained, IRIB reported on Saturday.

The country has also carried on a battle against narcotics in spite of being highly affected by cruel sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic, he added.

“Last year, more than 1,200 tons of various drugs were confiscated, which shows a decrease in drug trafficking and transit to Europe,” he highlighted.

According to the UN Office, the Islamic Republic’s continuous efforts to combat narcotics trafficking came up with the seizure of more than 90 percent of opium, 70 percent of morphine, and 20 percent of world heroin.

 ‘common understanding, global action’

Iranian deputy anti-narcotics police chief Naqi Mahmoudi has stressed that the drug trafficking fight requires a common understanding and action by all members of the international community, and no country alone can address the challenges in this area.

Despite the conditions caused by the coronavirus outbreak and the imposition of harsh sanctions against the country, fortunately, with the efforts of anti-narcotics police in 2020, drug detection increased by 41 percent.

After the Islamic Revolution (in 1979), 3,800 were martyred, 12,000 were wounded and disabled in the fight against drug trafficking.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has praised Iran’s efforts to fight against narcotics trafficking on the occasion of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

The organization also officially announced that the world’s first place in the discovery of opium, heroin, and morphine belongs to Iran.

According to UNODC, Iran remains one of the major transit routes for drug trafficking from Afghanistan to European countries and has had a leading role at the global level in drug-control campaigns.

UNODC World Drug Report 2020 estimates that in 2018, 91 percent of world opium, 48 percent of the world morphine, and 26 percent of the world heroin were seized by Iran.

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Ahmad Ali Goodarzi, border commander of the police force, announced the confiscation of several weapons, a significant amount of ammunition in Sistan-Baluchestan province during two operations.

“In one of the operations, police forces dismantled a gang and confiscated nearly 821 kilograms of narcotics, and in the other operation, 267 kilograms of narcotics were seized from smugglers.”

During the missions, two vehicles have been seized,” Goodarzi added.

Iran’s fight against drugs continues despite sanctions, pandemic

Iran has carried on a battle against narcotics in spite of being highly affected by cruel sanctions and COVID-19 pandemic, Eskandar Momeni, the director of headquarters for the fight against narcotics, said on April 13.

Last year (March 2020 – March 2021), amid the pandemic, Iran has participated in more than 20 regional and international events online, in cooperation with the UNODC office in Tehran, he highlighted, IRNA reported on Tuesday.

The counter-narcotics agencies and police forces succeeded in detecting about 1,150 tons of various types of narcotics by strengthening the mechanisms for monitoring and exchanging information between the responsible organizations.

This volume of discoveries is a new and unprecedented record in the fight against drugs, which shows a growth of about 41 percent compared to 2019; some 90 percent of the substances found were opium, 26 percent heroin, and 48 percent morphine.

This success has been achieved with the martyrdom of 10 law enforcement and counter-narcotics forces in the global front against drug transit.

After the Islamic Revolution (in 1979), 3,800 were martyred, 12,000 were wounded and disabled in the fight against drug trafficking.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has praised Iran’s efforts to fight against narcotics trafficking on the occasion of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

The organization also officially announced that the world’s first place in the discovery of opium, heroin, and morphine belongs to Iran.

According to UNODC, Iran remains one of the major transit routes for drug trafficking from Afghanistan to European countries and has had a leading role at the global level in the drug-control campaigns.

UNODC World Drug Report 2020 estimates that in 2018, 91 percent of world opium, 48 percent of the world morphine, and 26 percent of the world heroin were seized by Iran.

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“According to reliable information, NATO planes are transporting and smuggling illicit drugs in the neighboring country, Afghanistan, so not only are we facing the drugs phenomenon and its production, but we are also facing a world war which the Islamic Republic of Iran is at the forefront of this war,” Momeni said, according to IRNA.

He said that the “occupying forces” are openly supporting the production and cultivation of narcotics in Afghanistan.

The Russian presidential envoy to Afghanistan also said in July that the US intelligence has been involved in “drug trafficking” in Afghanistan.

“Those wonderful US intelligence officers, who accuse us of different things, are involved in drug trafficking. Their planes from Kandahar, from Bagram [airfield near Kabul] are flying wherever they want to – to Germany, to Romania – without any inspections,” Zamir Kabulov said, according to TASS.

Kabulov underlined that US involvement in drug trafficking to Europe through uncharted planes is an open secret in Afghanistan, saying, “Every citizen of Kabul will tell you that, everyone is ready to talk about that.”

The Iranian official also noted on Monday that the total production of narcotics in Afghanistan in 2,000 was about 200 tons, which reached more than 9,000 tons in 2017, he said, IRNA wrote.

Iran, which has a 900-kilometer common border with Afghanistan, has been used as the main conduit for smuggling Afghan drugs to narcotics kingpins in Europe and is at the frontline of the global campaign against the drug trafficking.

Despite high economic and human costs, the Islamic Republic has been actively fighting drug trafficking over the past decades.

The war on drug trade originating from Afghanistan has claimed the lives of nearly 4,000 Iranian police officers over the past four decades.

Momeni said in July Iran seized some 1,000 tons of narcotics in the previous Iranian calendar year (ended March 20), putting the country in the first place in the world.

On Monday, he said that about 500 tons of drugs have been discovered since the beginning of the Iranian year, which shows a 30 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

The United Nations says more than 80 percent of the world’s opium is produced in Afghanistan and the bulk of narcotics produced in the country is destined for European states.

Afghan opium production has skyrocketed over the course of the 19-year US war in the country. In 2018, Afghan farmers grew poppies – the plant from which opium is extracted to make heroin – on four times as much land as they did in 2002.

The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 shortly after the September 11 attacks. While the invasion ended the Taliban’s rule in the country, it has failed to eliminate the militant group.

American forces have since remained bogged down in Afghanistan through the presidencies of George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and now, Donald Trump.

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According To Iran News, Border guards of the country have seized over 2 tons of illicit drugs in Sistan and Baluchestan province, said Commander of the Border Guard of the Law Enforcement Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran (NAJA).

Second Brigadier General Ahmad Ali Goudarzi made the announcement on Saturday, saying that following intelligence operation, the border guards dismantled a drug-smuggling gang in a single operation in addition to confiscation of 2.275 tons of illicit drugs.

The consignment consisted of 2.200 tons of opium and 75 kg of hashish, he added.

The Islamic Republic has been actively fighting drug trades originating from Afghanistan in the past four decades, despite its high economic and human costs. The country has spent more than hundreds of millions of dollars on sealing its borders and preventing the transit of narcotics destined for European, Arab, and Central Asian countries.

According to reports, in 2018 alone, Iranian forces carried out 1,557 operations against drug traffickers, seizing approximately 807 tons of different types of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

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