2006/41
TEHRAN, 1 March 2006 (UNIC): The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) has said that Iran continues to lead the world with by far the largest volume of seized opium.
In 2004, seizures of opium in Iran increased to 174 tons, nearly twice the high figure recorded in 2003 (98 tons). In 2003, the last year for which data for global seizures of opiates is available, Iran accounted for 73 per cent of global seizures of opium.
Releasing the annual INCB report today, Mr. Roberto Arbitrio, Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Tehran, said that according to the report in addition to Iran and Turkey, Pakistan and countries of Central Asia continue to be used as the main transit points for consignments of Afghan heroin, destined for illicit markets primarily in Europe but also in North America.
INCB further said that the drug abuse situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran appears to be worsening. It urged the Government to take measures to accurately assess the current state of drug abuse in the country.
The report noted that according to official estimate, out of a total population of 68 million, 2 million persons abuse drugs regularly; and of the 2 million drug abusers, 1.2 million are classified as addicts. Though opiates are the main drug of abuse, reports indicate that the abuse of crystalline methamphetamine and MDMA (Ecstasy) also appears to be increasing. However, those figures are based on a survey conducted in 1999, and INCB is concerned regarding the lack of more recent information.
Regarding opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, INCB said that figures released in September 2005 show that though progress is being made in the eradication of illicit opium poppy cultivation, much work remains to be done.
“Afghanistan continues to be the main producer of illicit opium poppy, accounting for 87 per cent of global production in 2005. Moreover, Afghanistan’s share of the illicit manufacture of opiates, mainly heroin, has been increasing since the 1990s, indicating that Afghanistan continues to be a supplier of illicit morphine and heroin, as well as illicit opiate raw material.”
Mr. Arbitrio said that according to a UNODC survey released in September 2005, the total area under illicit opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan decreased by 21 per cent, from 131,000 hectares in 2004 to 104,000 hectares in 2005. Nevertheless increased crop yields meant that the actual production of opium remained at almost the same level.
Together the central and provincial governments of Afghanistan were able to eradicate 5 per cent of illicit poppy cultivation in 2005. But, according to the Afghanistan government, the failure to provide alternative livelihoods for opium poppy growers, the security situation in the country and the involvement of several provincial officials in drug trafficking are the main reasons for the continuation of illicit opium poppy cultivation in the country.
Further in Afghanistan, illicit heroin manufacture is taking place on such a large scale that it requires a large amount of the precursor acetic anhydride. But investigating the routes used for smuggling that substance into the country continues to be extremely difficult.
INCB expressed concern that in Afghanistan too, the abuse of drugs continues to be on the increase, creating a further obstacle on that country’s path to stability.
INCB noted that the fight against trafficking of Afghan opiates has remained central to cooperation between countries in West Asia and other countries. It mentions several initiatives in this area, including the meetings held in Tehran, Islamabad and Istanbul, under the auspices of the Paris Pact, a consultative mechanism for countries affected by trafficking in opiates from Afghanistan.
INCB emphasized that the international community must rethink its approach to alternative development, in order for it to work more effectively as an international drug control strategy. For instance, the current approach to alternative development focuses only on crop substitution rather than more broadly defined legitimate livelihoods. According to Mr. Hamid Ghodse, President of INCB, “A truly comprehensive concept of alternative development includes not only the cultivation of alternative crops, but also transport and infrastructure development, education, health care, security, stability and good governance”.
The report also deals with issues related to smuggling of drugs via the postal system, which it said is on the rise and urged government to strengthen national legislation and screen all routes of incoming and outgoing international mail. The report sounded the alarm on the rapid increase in the illicit manufacture of metamphetamine, around the world.
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