Pars Today – The Islamic Republic of Iran remains one of the main transit routes for drug smuggling from Afghanistan to European countries and has played a significant role globally in addressing the challenge of drug control.
Over recent decades, the Islamic Republic of Iran, in line with its humanitarian responsibilities, has played a crucial role in combating drug trafficking. According to Pars Today, through substantial investments in this field, Iran has been able to establish a remarkable barrier in detecting and destroying drugs in West Asia.
On the other hand, according to reports from Drug Control Headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the two-decade presence of Americans in Afghanistan was one of the major factors contributing to the increase in drug production. In 2000, at the start of the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan, the total drug production in the country was about 200 tons. By 2021, however, this figure had risen to 9,500 tons — meaning that drug production increased fiftyfold during the U.S. presence in Afghanistan.
Under these circumstances, without Iran’s relentless efforts and ceaseless actions to curb this ominous phenomenon, the global situation regarding the spread of drug addiction would have become far worse.
For instance, due to its proximity to the primary source of production (Afghanistan) and as the closest route to Europe — the main market and final destination for smugglers — the Islamic Republic of Iran has sacrificed over 4,000 martyrs and more than 12,000 disabled veterans, while incurring an annual cost of one billion dollars to secure its borders, aimed at preventing the smuggling of drugs into the country and their transit to other nations. Through these efforts, Iran has managed to seize over 12,000 tons of various narcotics over the past three decades.
Despite the unjust sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran and the extensive challenges in combating drug smuggling, Iran has continued to block the transit routes for drug trafficking on this turbulent path. As a result, the United Nations has recognized Iran as a leading force in the fight against drugs.
In this regard, Hossein Zolfaghari, the representative of the President and Secretary-General of Iran’n Drug Control Headquarters, spoke on Monday during the 68th annual session of the the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna, Austria.
He presented recommendations for more effective measures to tackle the global issue of drug abuse and emphasized the need to enhance cooperation, strengthen mechanisms for information exchange, share experiences, provide technical assistance, supply equipment, and transfer necessary technologies to countries affected by the cultivation, production, transit, and consumption of drugs.
Zolfaghari identified unilateral sanctions as the most significant obstacle in the fight against drugs. In line with the implementation of numerous resolutions by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the Human Rights Council, he called for an end to sanctions and the provision of effective technical and equipment assistance to frontline countries battling drug trafficking.
MG/UR
