Iran Commemorates efforts made by Police and law enforcement against drug trafficking
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Islamic Republic of Iran Drug Control Headquarters organized an event to commemorate the works of Police and law enforcement in Iran against drugs and drug trafficking on 23 June in advance of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Experts and officials from Drug Control Headquarters, Anti Narcotic Police, Border Police, Judiciary, Customs, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Health, State Welfare Organization, Ministry of Intelligence, Revolutionary Guard Corp, Basij Forces, Red Crescent, and IRIB Broadcasting participated in the event. Members of various government organizations joined the meeting from 31 Provinces through internet. Secretary General of the Drug Control Headquarters, Deputy Head of Police, Deputy Prosecutor General of the Judiciary, and UNODC Iran Country Representative were speakers at this event.
Islamic Republic of Iran remains as one of the major transit routes for drug trafficking from Afghanistan to European countries, and has had a leading role at global level in drug control campaign. UNODC World Drug Report 2020 estimates that in 2018, 91% of world opium, 48% of the world morphine and 26 % of the world heroin were seized by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Deputy Head of Islamic Republic of Iran Police commended Iran’s drug control efforts and fight against drug trafficking and referred to seizure of 266 tons of different types of drugs during period of April-June 2020, 20% increase compared to the same period in 2019.
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UNODC Iran Country Representative presented a concise and informative speech on drug abuse as complex problem at the intersection of public health, safety and social issues. He reiterated that UNODC commemorates International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking to join the global community in addressing and countering the world drug problem, as underlined by all UN member states through the Ministerial Declaration adopted at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna in March 2020. He stated that UNODC remains committed to its close cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran in the fight against challenges of drug production, drug trafficking and drug abuse.
The Secretary General of the Islamic Republic of Iran Drug Control Headquarters welcomed and appreciated participation of national counterparts and UNODC Iran Country Representative in the event. He acknowledged technical assistance and equipment provision by UNODC for the cause of drug control in Iran. He reiterated the principle of common and shared responsibility by UNODC and international community in fight against drugs. He referred to efforts made by the Iranian law enforcement and Police in fight against drugs and stated that as reported by the Police, in Iran 73% of seizures were done through intelligence exchange in 2020 and 72% of seizures were done in eastern provinces of Iran. During COVID-19 pandemic in Iran, Drug Control Headquarters provided and distributed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other sanitary commodities among street users and NGOs working with drug users.
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In the end, the anti Narcotic Police and law enforcement of Iran held a burning ceremony of 90 tons of different types of drugs in provinces of Sistan and Baluchestan, Kerman, and West Azarbaijan, televised through internet.
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For more information you can contact:
Mr. Kaveh Moradi
Senior Programme Manager,
UNODC Iran
Tel.: +98 21 88 87 83 77,
Email: kaveh.moradi@un.org