Iran, Ukraine Finalize MoU on Counter-Narcotics Measures
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Highest-ranking anti-drug officials from Iran and Ukraine finalized the general outlines of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on joint action against narcotics.
The MoU, which has been under development for quite a while, was finalized on Thursday at a meeting between Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli and head of Ukraine’s anti-drug agency, held on the sidelines of a United Nations General Assembly special session on the world drug problem.
The special session was convened at the UN Headquarters in New York from April 19 to 21.
The MoU between Tehran and Kiev will be signed in the near future.
Based on the document, Iran and Ukraine are going to launch broad cooperation in the fight against narcotics, dug precursors and hallucinating drugs, the treatment of addicts, joint training programs, exchange of information and experiences, anti-money laundering efforts, a fierce battle against drug trafficking, and production of medication for drug addiction.
Iran is on a major transit route for drugs being smuggled from Afghanistan to Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Despite high economic and human costs, the Islamic Republic has been actively fighting drug trafficking. The war on drug trade originating from Afghanistan has claimed the lives of nearly 4,000 Iranian police officers over the past three decades.
Although Ukraine is not a major drug producing country, its location astride several important drug trafficking routes into Western Europe leaves it vulnerable as an important transit country.
Ukraine has comprehensive anti-drug legislation in place consistent with international standards.
The key agencies involved in the implementation of the government anti-drug policy in Ukraine include the State Narcotics Control Service (SNCS), the Ministry of Interior (MOI), the Security Service, the State Fiscal Service, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS), and the Ministry of Health.
