TEHRAN – The Japanese government is prepared to cooperate with Iran in the global fight against narcotics, Hiroshi Minami, the representative of Japan to the 67th UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, has said.

In a meeting with Eskandar Momeni, the secretary general of the Iranian anti-narcotics headquarters, the Japanese official commended Iran’s achievements in reducing the demand for illicit drugs, treating addicts, and minimizing harms caused by drug abuse.

Furthermore, he expressed Japan’s willingness to collaborate with Iran to implement joint projects in this area, IRNA reported on Wednesday.

Momeni, for his part, said the historical relations between the two countries are over a hundred years old. “The relations are always expanding and developing.”

The Japanese government and the ambassador to Tehran have been always supportive of Iran and shared experiences in the fight against narcotics, he stressed.

Due to the geographical location of Iran, being next to the world’s largest drug-producing country, Iran is taking extensive measures in the battle against drugs and drug trafficking, Momeni highlighted.

“Iran is willing to draft a memorandum of understanding to bolster cooperation with Japan on exchanging information, identifying ringleaders of drug trafficking, psychotropic substances, precursors and NPS (non-scheduled precursors), as well as cooperation in prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and social protection,” Momeni further noted.

Iran appreciates UNODC-Japan support

In July 2023, the Iranian anti-narcotics police appreciated the Government of Japan and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for their support in dealing with narcotics.

The international community's support for the anti-narcotics police is very little against the massive amount of drug threats, Nosratollah Barin, the deputy chief of the anti-narcotics police, said.

He made the remarks in a meeting with Aikawa Kazutoshi, the Japanese ambassador, and Alexander Fedulov, the UNODC representative, in Tehran, ISNA reported.

On the sidelines of the meeting, drug detection equipment provided by UNODC and Japan was delivered to the Iranian police.

The provision of modern drug detection equipment to the country is crucial since Iran is at the forefront of the fight against drugs, Barin stressed. 

UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs

The 67th UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) was held in Vienna from March 14-22. The session will be structured around a two-day high-level segment, where the 2024 mid-term review will be conducted from March 14-15, and a regular segment, Mehr news agency reported.

Momeni is scheduled to deliver a speech at a high-level segment and elaborate on Iran’s activities in the fight against drugs. He will also talk about the country’s expectations and demands as a forefront country in the fight against narcotics.

He will also hold meetings with officials of other states and the UN.

The mid-term review will serve to assess progress made in the implementation of all international drug policy commitments as set forth in the 2019 Ministerial Declaration.

Preceding the 2024 midterm review was a comprehensive stock-taking of all 11 challenges related to the world drug problem identified in the Ministerial Declaration, which took place during the thematic discussions held on October 23-25 and December 4-6 December 2023, the UN website reported.

On the sidelines of the session, an exhibition will be held in the presence of the participant countries. Iran will showcase the latest achievements in fighting narcotics, and products made by a number of recovered addicts will be displayed.

MT/MG