Tehran – Executive Director of Iran’s Drug Management Headquarters (DCHQ), Brigadier General Hossein Zolfakari, Central Director of the DCSA of Italy’s Anti-Dalag Services, and International Director of General Pierangello Iannat, Fisher, has called for greater cooperation to play a more effective role in the fight against drug-related issues.
Authorities met bystanders at the 68th United Nations Commission on Drugs (CND), held in Vienna, Austria from March 10th to 14th.
During a meeting with Italian officials, Zolfakari detailed the structure of the anti-drug headquarters and Iran’s geographical location on the Balkan transit route to Europe. “The attractive European market seduces drug traffickers. One of the negative consequences of this economic corruption is the irreparable loss we are experiencing in our area.”
Referring to the discovery of around 440 tons of drugs in Iran, including 38 tons of methamphetamine in 2024, he said “some of the shipments are aimed at European countries.”
Both countries worked together in the fight against drugs by sharing their expertise and information and holding training courses. Still, this cooperation has recently halted, Zolfakari pointed out.
On his part, Iannotti said, “We are well aware of Iran’s extensive activities and the great measures to detect drugs trafficked from Afghanistan to Europe.”
In praise of Iran’s efforts, authorities said: “Our liaison officers at the Italian Embassy in Tehran are responsible for promoting cooperation, exchanging information and organising training workshops for drug detection dogs.
In a meeting with Skezilla Fisher, the Iranian DCHQ executive director general said despite measures and achievements in Iran’s combating drugs, he unfortunately faces discrimination from some countries, particularly the West.
Zolfakari said risk factors for smuggling from the country have increased as a result of Iran’s measures, highlighting the discovery of 5,000 tons of different types of drugs over the past five years, focusing on intelligence-based operations. Over the past five years, international smuggling gangs have begun to use alternative routes like the ocean.
Officials continued to list Iran’s efforts in reducing demand, reducing harm, treating, rehabilitation, and unifying the recovered individuals into society. “In this respect, a comprehensive document on primary prevention of addiction has been developed and implemented, with its main goal being to reduce the incidence of addiction by covering 40% of the country’s total population.”
Preventive activities are provided in families, educational centers (schools and universities), work environments, and in the vicinity. The harm reduction program in the form of mobile teams and mobile centers under development focuses on providing services such as sterile syringes and needles, food distribution, hygiene products, overnight sleep in bathing facilities and shelters, and low-supply methadone to drug addicts with homelessness, poverty, poverty and sexually transmitted diseases.
“The number of treatment centres management, treatment centre management and addiction treatment centres increased to 7,200 residential, outpatient and inpatient rehabilitation centers.
Due to the prevention programs, harm reduction, treatment, rehabilitation, and the implementation of the “Life Helper” project over the past five years, the use of HIV, hepatitis C and other blood-borne infections related to drug use, as well as the use of injectable drugs, and its prevalence in the country are contained and suppressed.
Recognizing the importance of Iran’s efforts, Skezilla Fischer said he “understands the geographical location and conditions of Iran, as well as the resulting difficulties and challenges.”
Calling Iran’s harm reduction programme important, Skeziler Fisher said that Swiss harm reduction programme aims to enhance prevention of addiction and ensure long-term treatment of addiction people. She announced that the country is ready to exchange knowledge and experience in this field.
“Unsolicited sanctions hinder anti-drug measures.”
Addressing the 68th session of the UN CND, Zolfakari said imposes unfair sanctions on Iran will not only increase the costs of implementing treatment and harm reduction programs, but also challenge the development of effective strategies to combat drug trafficking.
Despite all the efforts made to overcome the problem, national and international drug management systems are struggling with the rapid emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPS), Zolfaqari emphasized.
Officials proposed several ways to better treat drug and drug-related issues, highlighting the need to expand cooperation, enhance mechanisms for information exchange, share experience, provide technical assistance and equipment, and transfer the necessary technologies to countries affected by illegal production, transport and consumption of drugs.
Diversifying treatment methods and promoting access to drugs for medical purposes is one of the nation’s top priorities to reduce the demand for illegal use of drugs. Therefore, he added, it is essential to promote the exchange of current expertise and findings.
To cooperate in the field of drug enforcement, referring to successful initiatives that have been suspended or partially active, such as agreements supported by the UNODC between Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, Zolfakari is expected to fund UNODC to support such local agreements.
“In line with the implementation of the majority resolutions of the Drug Commission and the Human Rights Council, we are calling for the end of sanctions and the procurement of effective technical and equipment support to the country at the forefront of the fight against drugs,” Zolfakari further pointed out.
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