TEHRAN – Iran anti-narcotics police have seized some 580 tons of narcotics in the past Iranian calendar year 1402 (March 2023 –March 2024).

About 75 percent of the narcotics were discovered in eastern regions of the country, IRNA quoted Iraj Kakavand, the anti-narcotics police chief, as saying.

The discovered narcotics were mainly opium, but there was a 20 percent increase in industrial narcotics, particularly methamphetamine.

The official went on to say that a total of 1,680 drug gangs were dismantled by police, marking a 13 percent increase compared to the year 1401 (March 2022-March 2023).

The drug smugglers suffered a financial loss of 3,000 billion rials (around $6 million), he explained.

Iran is self-sufficient in dealing with narcotics

On April 17,  Alireza Kazemi, an official with anti-narcotics headquarters  said,  “After four decades of effort, Iran is now self-sufficient in preventing addiction, treating addicts, and combating narcotics.”

Kazemi made the remarks on the sidelines of an exhibition showcasing the capabilities of the anti-narcotics headquarters.

The exhibition was held with the participation of knowledge-based companies.

Despite unfair sanctions,  knowledge-based companies have achieved significant scientific progress in dealing with the harms of addiction and drugs which has made the country independent from foreign aid.

Domestically-made products that are used to treat drug addiction can be exported to other countries, even advanced countries, he added.

The affordability and the minimal side effects of these products have made them competitive compared to foreign samples. In some cases, they have proved to be even much more effective.

In March, the secretary general of the anti-narcotics headquarters 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.

MT/ MG