File photo shows an Iranian soldier standing by a confiscated illicit drug cargo.
Interpol’s Executive Director of Police Services Jean-Michel Louboutin says Iran is an effective player in the organization’s international operations.
Louboutin, who is visiting Iran to promote further cooperation between the international organization and the Iranian police, made the remarks during a Tuesday meeting with chief of Interpol section of Iranian police, Colonel Massoud Rezvani.
Stating that Iran is one of the oldest member countries of Interpol, Louboutin said “cooperation between Iran and Interpol is at an acceptable level.”
Louboutin, on his first visit to Iran, stressed that Iranian police have been trained effectively enough to deal with different types of crimes.
Referring to a joint operation between the Iranian police forces and Interpol, Louboutin hailed Iran’s comprehensive efforts in combating drug trafficking.
Rezvani, for his part, said “the Iranian police is ready to improve its communication with Interpol, especially in the area of organized crime.”
Iran has a 900-kilometer border with Afghanistan and has frequently been used as the main conduit for the smuggling of Afghan drugs to narcotics kingpins in Europe.
The Islamic Republic has spent more than USD700 million to seal the borders and prevent the transit of narcotics destined for European, Arab and Central Asian countries.
The war on drug trade originating from Afghanistan has claimed the lives of nearly 4,000 Iranian police officers over the past 33 years.
PG/SS
