Cooperation of Iran and UNODC against illicit drug trafficking

In the present article, the author examines historical development and current state of cooperation between the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran and one of the most influential international organizations in combating drug trafficking, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. It is shown that Iran, as one of the key routes for smuggling opiates from Afghanistan and Pakistan to the Gulf countries, Russia and Europe, remains one of the leaders in terms of seizures of opiates. However, along with Afghanistan and Pakistan, Iran remains one of the world leaders in the opiate abuse. Cooperation of Iran and UNODC began in 1999 when UNODC representative office in Iran was opened after the signing the Memorandum of Understanding. In the next six years (1999-2004), UNODC provided technical assistance to Iran in the framework of NOROUZ (Narcotic Reduction Unitized Strategy for Iran), a package of measures comprised of separate projects, which were aimed at establishing conditions for increasing the efficiency of local law enforcement agencies to combat illicit trafficking of drugs in Iran, and especially its transit. Due to the implementation of diversified projects covering reduction of supply, demand reduction, legal assistance, and advocacy, the program was considered successful in strengthening national capacity to combat drugs. In 2005, Representative office of UNODC in Iran launched a new program focused on the tasks for reducing the volume of illicit drug trafficking reducing the demand for them as well as providing legal assistance to the Government of Iran. Particular attention is paid to the description of the program of cooperation for 2011-2014 and its main results, in particular, the promotion of UNODC in the development of the country’s cynological service and operating results of the Triangular Initiative. The main objective of the program was the development of a specific work plan aimed at achieving concrete strategic results. The plan contained three main points: illegal transportation and border management; drug demand reduction and HIV prevention; crime, justice and corruption. In the first sub-program, support was provided to strengthen national capacity to combat drug trafficking by supporting the expansion of multi-faceted technical cooperation. In accordance with the sub-program, bilateral, regional and interregional cooperation was developing in the framework of such international initiatives as the Global Programme of inspection of container transportation, operation TARCET, the Paris Pact initiative, meetings of the Economic Cooperation Organization and the regional program of UNODC for Afghanistan and neighboring countries. The author concludes that the cooperation of the Iranian authorities with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime has made a significant contribution to the development of counter-narcotics in Iran, and analysis of the experience of this interaction may be useful in the development of international ties of the Russian Federation in combating international drug trafficking.