20 May 2009, UN News Center - The top
United Nations anti-drug official, on a visit to Tehran, today praised Iran for
its efforts to stop the flow of drugs from Afghanistan to the West.
Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the UN
Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said Iran was "holding back a flood of heroin"
from Afghanistan, according to a news release.
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Afghan farmers in the midst of a poppy cultivation (archive
photo) |
During his visit, Mr. Costa met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the
Secretary-General of the Drug Control Headquarters and the Minister of Health,
and praised the Iranian Government which he said was making "a massive
sacrifice" in its efforts against drug smuggling.
"The anti-narcotics police in Iran are among the best in the world," he said.
According to UNODC estimates, most of the opium going from Afghanistan to the
West is smuggled via Iran. This amounts to approximately 2,500 tons of opium
crossing Iran's borders every year. Mr. Costa said the Iranian authorities
seized about one-third of that amount.
"Most of the world's opium is produced in one country (Afghanistan). The more
drugs that are seized near production areas, the less drugs will reach Western
streets," he said. "This should be a shared responsibility, not only Iran's
problem."
Mr. Costa visited a memorial to the more than 3,700 border control officers who
have died while defending against well-armed drug traffickers. More than 12,000
others have been injured.
"These fallen police officers have given their lives to prevent drugs from
poisoning the world, not just Iran," Mr. Costa said.
He also visited a drug rehabilitation centre, and spoke with addicts attempting
to shake their habits.
"Iran has a major drugs problem, but it is taking the right steps to deal with
it," Mr. Costa said.
To stem the flow, the Government of Iran has erected over 1,000 kilometres of
embankments, canals, trenches, and cement walls along its eastern border, UNODC
said.
... Payvand News - 05/21/09 ... --
