Opium production in Afghanistan 22 times more than 2001: Police commander

He told IRNA correspondent in Moscow after a meeting with his Russian counterpart.

In 2001, Afghanistan was producing 200 tons of opium a year but today despite presence of the US and its allies’ troops in the country, 4,400 tons are produced annually, Zahedian added.

He said that according to the estimate, 7700 tons of opium will be produced in Afghanistan this year (started March 21, 2017).

Major parts of financial transactions of smuggling networks are occurred in the western and European countries and these countries’ indifference towards this phenomena has paved the way for empowerment of drug mafia in the world, Zahedian noted.

He said that according to the reports, the intelligence organizations of western countries are involved in the revenues of drug smuggling.

In line with the agreements signed between Iran and Russia, the two countries have planned exchange of information and cooperation in training, technical and operational fields, Zahedian noted.

He said that Tehran and Moscow have also plan to persuade Afghan officials to reduce the area of poppy cultivation and to encourage them to fight drug traffickers and their precursors.

Zahedian referred to martyrdom of 3,800 Iranian police personnel in fighting the drugs, and said that Iran has made several obstacles in its eastern borders to prevent transfer of drug to other countries.

Western countries are not serious enough in fighting drug trafficking and Iran alone has taken the burden of countering smugglers, he added.

Zahedian referred to the Clean Caspian Sea plan to fight drugs trafficking in the sea and said that Iran has good level of cooperation with the Collective Security Treaty Organization in fighting drug trafficking, organized crimes and money laundering.

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