Iranian Official Reports 20% Increase In Synthetic Drug Smuggling From Afghanistan
Eskandar Momeni, the Secretary-General of the Islamic Republic's Drug Control Headquarters, has announced a 20% increase in drug smuggling from Afghanistan to Iran.
This increase has been quantified by the discovery of drugs and the influx of methamphetamine from Afghanistan into Iran.
The ISNA news agency, on Friday, reported that Momeni was visiting Vienna, Austria, to attend the 67th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. During his visit, he mentioned, "There has been no significant change in the volume of drugs entering the country from Afghanistan."
Following their rise to power in 2021, the Taliban prohibited the cultivation, purchase, and sale of narcotics. Despite this, the group periodically announces the seizure of narcotics within Afghan provinces.
The head of Iran's Drug Control Headquarters had previously relayed statements from the Taliban indicating that narcotics production in Afghanistan has facilitated an increase in smuggling into Iran. He cited Taliban officials as stating, "The narcotics that are currently being smuggled are the ones which had been stored, and we anticipate a decrease of up to 90% in drug trafficking once these stores are depleted."
