Spokesman Highlights Iran’s Role in Fight against Illicit Drugs Trafficking
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said despite minimal cooperation from international organizations and the problems caused by sanctions, the country plays a major role in the global fight against narcotics trafficking.
“On the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the Islamic Republic of Iran, as the flag bearer of the global fight against narco-traffickers and death dealers, reaffirms its determination to deal with this global threat,” Nasser Kanaani said in a message on Wednesday.
“Our close cooperation with @UNODC, offering thousands of martyrs and suffering huge material and spiritual losses and the amounts of drugs seized in this dangerous geographical region, all indicate the strong resolve of the Islamic Republic of Iran to counter this global threat,” he added according to the Foreign Ministry’s website.
“At a time when the cooperation of international organizations with Iran in this relentless struggle is very minimal, the cruel sanctions and unilateral coercive measures also are yet another obstacle in the fight against this sinister phenomenon. We will press ahead with this struggle to build a better and safer future for all human beings.”
Iran, which has a 900-kilometer common border with Afghanistan, has been used as the main conduit for smuggling Afghan drugs to narcotics kingpins in Europe.
Despite high economic and human costs, the Islamic Republic has been actively fighting drug trafficking over the past decades.
The country has spent more than $700 million on sealing its borders and preventing the transit of narcotics destined for European, Arab and Central Asian countries.
The war on drug trade originating from Afghanistan has claimed the lives of nearly 4,000 Iranian police officers over the past four decades.