TEHRAN –The secretary general of the anti-narcotics headquarters has stressed the need for effective implementation of anti-narcotics programs in the region free from political considerations.

“One of the most important challenges of the present era is the narcotic drugs, industrial substances and new psychedelics and the sufferings that I would like to refer to as the quiet war against humanity,” IRIB quoted Eskandar Momeni as saying.

He made the remarks in the 67th UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, urging all countries to be committed to the sustainable and effective implementation of international drug control conventions.

“In the past five years, adopting a balanced strategy in the fight against drugs, the Islamic Republic of Iran has taken effective measures to promote security and public health in alignment with the implementation of the 2019 Ministerial Declaration, international treaties, and conventions,” Momeni added.

Intensifying efforts to combat drug supply and transit via enhanced border control measures and cracking down on money laundering are among the actions taken by the country.

“In the past five years, 4,450 tons of various materials of Afghan origin have been discovered through the dedication of 50 martyrs and sacrifices made by my colleagues,” he noted.

Iran welcomes any practical measures that lead to the reduction and stopping of the cultivation and production of all kinds of narcotics in Afghanistan.

“Despite our efforts, we have not observed a substantial decrease in drug trafficking in Afghanistan. In the last two weeks, two operations discovered shipments totaling 4800 kilograms of drugs destined for a certain European country,” Momeni added.

He continued: “Last year, as in previous years, we have witnessed the increasing trend of discovering methamphetamine from Afghanistan.”

He referred to the compilation and implementation of the comprehensive document on treatment and harm reduction; the expansion of treatment centers both quantitatively and qualitatively,  the maximum use of the private sector and non-governmental organizations (7,200 centers), employing diverse treatment methods including pharmaceuticals and psychological and social interventions, ensuring access to medicinal substances for medical and scientific purposes, boosting harm reduction programs by providing various services to people at risk and managing the spread of AIDS and Hepatitis C  as other measure taken by the country.

Momeni further underscored the need to stop the cruel and unilateral sanctions and foster cooperation between the United Nations, international communities, and Iran in various aspects to strengthen the global fight against drugs.

Improving the effectiveness of programs through the exchange of successful experiences in combating narcotics, reducing demand, fostering scientific collaborations, and monitoring illegal activities in cyberspace and the dark net which can be achieved by establishing specific mechanisms coordinated by relevant international authorities, are among the issues raised by Momeni.

In the end, he said the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly disagrees with the revision of the international drug control regime based on decriminalization, which is considered to be the destruction of humanity's heritage in this important field.

UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs

The 67th UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) is taking place in Vienna from March 14-22.

The session is structured around a two-day high-level segment, where the 2024 mid-term review would be conducted from March 14-15, and a regular segment, Mehr news agency reported.

Momeni was 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