Islamic Republic of Iran

 

Islamic Republic of Iran hosted the 12th Regional Working Group on Precursors

 

 

From left to right: Dr. Amir Abbas Lotfi, Director General of
International Relations Office of Drug Control Headquarters
of the Islamic Republic of Iran;
Brigadier General Masoud Zahedian, Head of Anti-Narcotics
Police of the Islamic Republic of Iran;
Mr. Naser Aslani, the Deputy Director of Drug Supply and
Border Control Office of Drug Control Headquarters of the
Islamic Republic of Iran; Mr. Reginald Pitts, the Head of
UNODC Office in Kazakhstan; Mr. Kaveh Moradi,
Senior Programme Manager, UNODC Office in Iran

Tehran, 15 July 2019 - The twelfth Regional Working Group on Precursors (RWGP) in the framework of UNODC Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries was held in Tehran.  Senior governmental officials from Regional Programme Countries, Islamic Republic of Iran Drug Control Headquarters (DCHQ), Anti-Narcotics Police (ANP), and ambassadors and representatives from Mini Dublin Group embassies in Tehran participated in this meeting.

The Deputy Director of Drug Supply and Border Control Office of the Drug Control Headquarters, Mr. Naser Aslani, welcomed the participants and stated that the issue of precursors is an international dilemma, linked to various damages to social life and health of individuals and societies. He further reiterated that the intelligence exchange is of high importance in the international cooperation to confront this dilemma.

The Head of UNODC Office in Kazakhstan, Mr. Reginald Pitts, opened his remarks by quoting the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, "Afghanistan has no heroin problem, but it has precursor chemicals problem". He stated that most of the seizures are through intelligence operations; therefore, the importance of intelligence is obvious. He said: "There is a common problem; therefore, we need to find a common solution through regional cooperation to improve healthy life style in our community".

Head of Anti-Narcotics Police, Brigadier General Zahedian, in his remarks stated that the issue of drugs and precursors is a global challenge and requires transnational cooperation and support on behalf of international organizations. He continued by saying that the controlling operations and procedures have heavy costs which have always been borne by the Islamic Republic of Iran with its positive benefits not only for Iran but also for the global community. He stated that more than 70 percent of the global drug seizures are in Iran and having 3,814 Martyrs and more than 12,000 casualties illustrates the serious position of Iran in combating the drugs which also demands international cooperation and support.

Brigadier General Zahedian closed his remarks by expressing the Islamic Republic of Iran's readiness for establishing communication and extending extensive cooperation on intelligence exchange and joint operations with countries in the region and at international level.

Austrian Ambassador to Tehran, Dr. Stefan Schulz also stated that he recently has had a visit to border of Iran and Afghanistan and observed the impressive and extensive law enforcement activities of Iran and hopes to continue cooperation with Iran.

 

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For additional information please contact:
Roya Soltanian (Ms.)
Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries
Email: roya.soltanian@un.org