Tehran Calls on Islamabad to Step up Anti-Narcotics Measures

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran urged Pakistan to increase its security efforts in dealing with drug production and smuggling in the South Asian country, warning Islamabad that the repercussions of the growing crime in the poor country will affect the whole region.

Secretary General of Iran’s Drug Control Headquarters Eskandar Momeni said at a meeting with Pakistani delegation attending the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna on Friday that Tehran expected Islamabad to tighten security control over regions bordering Iran, and to strengthen its cooperation with Iran to better fight the illegal drugs smuggling through the corridor.

“The smugglers, unfortunately, use Pakistan as a safe region to smuggle illegal drugs into Iran,” Momeni said.

“Iran is ready to cooperate bilaterally on borders security, intelligence and operations, with the aim of spotting international smuggling gangs, as well as decreasing demand for the drugs,” he added.

Referring to the friendly ties between Iran and Pakistan, he said that the two countries will be harmed by the repercussions of illegal drugs production and trade.

He emphasized the importance of Afghanistan’s cooperation in the fight against illegal drugs.

The Iranian official also discussed ways of cooperation with Portugal and Indonesia at separate meetings on the sidelines of CND meeting in Vienna.

The 62nd ministerial meeting of CND was held on March 14-15.

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) was established by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) resolution in 1946 as an entity for assisting cooperation on drug control treaties.

Iran is in the forefront of the fight against drug trafficking and thousands of Iranian police forces have been so far martyred to protect the world from the danger of drugs.

On December 5, Iran’s Coast Guard forces confiscated a 1.2 ton haul of narcotics in the Southern Province of Bushehr in the Persian Gulf, arresting a suspect in the operation.

Earlier in November, the coast guards seized an opium haul of 960 kg in Genaveh Port, located near Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf.

The Iranian anti-narcotic police have always staged periodic, but short-term, operations against drug traffickers and dealers, but the latest reports – which among others indicate an improved and systematic dissemination of information – reveal that the world’s most forefront and dedicated anti-narcotic force (as UN drug-campaign assessments put it) has embarked on a long-term countrywide plan to crack down on the drug trade since 8 years ago.

The Iranian police officials maintain that drug production in Afghanistan has undergone a 40-fold increase since the US-led invasion of the country in 2001.

Afghan and western officials blame Washington and NATO for the change, saying that allies have “overlooked” the drug problem since invading the country more than 16 years ago.