Anti-drug Moves Need Global, Regional Co-op - Official

Tehran, Oct 23, IRNA – Secretary general of Drug Control Headquarters said anti-narcotics activities and fight against drug smuggling need both global and regional cooperation. Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli made the remark in a meeting with Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations Helen Clark. Iran’s anti-drug measures cost a lot since the country is located in the drugs transit route and is in the neighborhood of Afghanistan, the world biggest narcotics producer, he noted. Elaborating on Iran’s anti-narcotic operations, Rahmani Fazli said the country detects 500 tons of drugs each year. Rahmani Fazli, who is also Interior Minister, expressed concerns over growing cultivation and production of drugs in Afghanistan. He stressed international organizations should help Afghanistan fight this phenomenon. For her part, Ms Clark praised Iran’s anti-narcotic measures, stressing that the Islamic Republic has been closely cooperating with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Ms Clark, who is also the UN Development Group (UNDG) Chair and the UNDP Administrator, voiced the United Nations readiness to introduce Iran’s anti-drug experiences to the world./end