Identification of 150 Websites for Drug Trafficking in Iran

On World Drug Day, an official combating this issue in Iran announced that in 2014, 506 tons of various drugs were discovered in Iran, and 150 active websites involved in drug trafficking were identified and dealt with. Every year, June 26, corresponding to Tir 6, is declared World Drug Day, and on this occasion, a conference was held in Iran, with Hassan Rouhani also issuing a message. In his message, the President of Iran referred to the slogan for World Drug Day in 2015, 'Let’s make our lives, society, and identity free from drugs,' stating that special attention should be given to alternative livelihoods in the main areas of drug cultivation and production. Rouhani also called for continuous cooperation from the international community to prevent illicit income from drug trafficking from entering international financial systems. According to Fars News Agency, recent statistics published by Iran's Drug Control Headquarters indicate that in 2014, 2,200 operations related to drugs were carried out, resulting in the discovery of 506 tons of various drugs, including 13.5 tons of heroin and 12.5 tons of morphine. Additionally, over 2,770 smuggling gangs were dismantled, and more than 330 methamphetamine production labs with 4 tons of meth were destroyed during this period. In 2015, in the first six months of the year, over 305 tons of drugs, including 9 tons of heroin, were discovered, and in the first three months of 94, 685 operations led to the seizure of a total of 150 tons of various drugs, 2 million unauthorized pills and injections, and about 17 tons of precursors, with over 66,000 traffickers arrested and 191 firearms confiscated. The identification of 150 active websites for drug trafficking has been a significant development. Providing statistics on the number of addicts in Iranian society has always been a challenging issue. Various institutions have reported contradictory statistics regarding the prevalence of drug addiction in Iran at different times. On the occasion of World Drug Day, the Tehran-based Arman newspaper interviewed the Deputy Secretary of the Drug Control Headquarters about the statistics and various forms of combating this issue. The Drug Control Headquarters in Iran reported that the number of addicts is 1.325 million; however, Mahmoud Golzari, former deputy of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, recently estimated the number of addicts to be three million. Alireza Jazini, Deputy Secretary of the Drug Control Headquarters, explained the discrepancy in statistics, stating that the existing figures pertain to the year 90. Jazini further noted that occasional users are not considered addicts, stating, 'Any person who consumes drugs once a year is classified as an occasional user; the number of occasional users cannot be quantified. It should be noted that the goal of centers and organizations is to assess permanent users.' Regarding the age of addiction and the gender of users, Jazini mentioned, 'Since 2007, we have witnessed a 23% change in consumption patterns. The age of addiction in our society has reached 15 years, and currently, 10% of users are women, indicating an increase in the number of women suffering from addiction.' The Arman newspaper reporter also referenced some websites or Facebook profiles that teach marijuana cultivation or the production of synthetic drugs. Jazini commented on this issue, stating, 'Cyber police are responsible for tracking these websites, and so far, 150 websites have been identified and dealt with. The cyber police monitor these issues online.' The UN Secretary-General also issued a message on the occasion of World Drug Day. According to IRNA, Ban Ki-moon's message, read at a special ceremony for World Drug Day in Tehran, stated, 'One in three drug users worldwide is a woman, while only one in five drug users in treatment is a woman.' The statement further noted, 'Currently, only one in six drug users worldwide has access to treatment, but women face numerous barriers to treatment, and Africa, especially West and East Africa, is constantly exposed to the harms of drug trafficking and illegal consumption.' According to the UN Secretary-General, a special session of the UN General Assembly on the global drug problem is scheduled to be held in April 2016.