Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian, the Deputy Minister of Security and Police of the Islamic Republic of Iran announced that despite the Taliban's ban on the cultivation of narcotics, the smuggling of these drugs to Iran continues.
Pourjamshidian said that smugglers in Afghanistan continue to maintain their drug stockpiles.
In April 2022, the Taliban banned poppy cultivation, as well as its production, consumption, and sale.
Pourjamshidian, however, said, "We are witnessing the entry of narcotics into our country [Iran] from the previous stockpiles that smugglers had in Afghanistan."
He recently visited Kabul with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, saying, "The issue of arms smuggling and terrorism is one of the most important issues we have with Afghanistan."
Mizan News Agency reported on Friday, January 31, that Pourjamshidian added, "During the visit to Afghanistan, the promotion of border security, Iran's rights, and prevention of drug smuggling to Iran were pursued."
In November this year, the Ministry of Interior of the Islamic Republic of Iran announced that the production of traditional drugs in Afghanistan has decreased, but instead the production of industrial drugs such as methamphetamine has increased. The ministry called the increase in the production of industrial drugs in Afghanistan dangerous for the security of the region and the world.
Abbas Araghchi traveled to Kabul on Sunday morning, January 26, along with a political and economic delegation, and met with the Taliban's prime minister, foreign ministers, and defence ministers.
This was the first visit of the Islamic Republic's foreign minister to Kabul since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021.
In a meeting with Taliban officials, Araghchi stressed that a new chapter in relations between the Islamic Republic and Afghanistan will begin.
After his visit to Kabul, Abbas Araghchi called the challenges to the Persian language, rights, border security, internal security of Afghanistan, security of Shiites, security of merchants, narcotics, terrorist groups and ISIS "very important challenges".