UNODC Iran Strengthens Anti-Narcotics Capacities through Advanced Training Conducted by Russian Experts

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Iran, in coordination with the Drug Control Headquarters (DCHQ) of the Islamic Republic of Iran, successfully organized the fourth specialized training course on “Combatting Drug Trafficking” for senior officers of the Anti-Narcotics Police of the Islamic Republic of Iran, under generous fund received from the Russian Federation.

This five-day capacity-building programme, held in Tehran from 09 to 13 November 2025, was conducted by two senior instructors from the Siberian Law Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. The training covered a wide range of topics including modern investigative techniques, the use of information technology in law enforcement, identification of new psychoactive substances, and methods of detecting and investigating online drug trafficking and money laundering crimes.

In addition to theoretical lectures, the training included interactive workshops and group exercises, allowing participants to apply their newly gained knowledge in simulated operational scenarios. These team-based sessions provided practical experience in coordination, intelligence gathering, and case analysis — enhancing participants’ readiness for real-life law enforcement operations.

During the opening session, Mr. Alexander Fedulov, Deputy Regional Representative of UNODC for Afghanistan, Central Asia, Iran, and Pakistan, expressed his appreciation to all national counterparts and participants, highlighting UNODC’s continued commitment to supporting Iran’s anti-narcotic efforts through technical assistance and capacity-building programmes under the Country Partnership Programme (2023–2026).

The training sessions were designed based on feedback from Iranian authorities and focused on strengthening operational and analytical skills in combating transnational drug trafficking. The participants highly appreciated the relevance, practical orientation, and interactive nature of the training materials.

As part of the programme, the Russian instructors also visited the Anti-Narcotics Police Exhibition in Tehran, where they became acquainted with the advanced operational capacities, technical capabilities, and achievements of Iran in the field of counter-narcotics.

The course concluded with a certificate presentation ceremony, where UNODC expressed gratitude to the Government of the Russian Federation for its generous financial contribution and to the Drug Control Headquarters for its valuable support and coordination in organizing the event.

This initiative was implemented under Sub-Programme 1: Border Management and Illicit Trafficking of the UNODC Country Partnership Programme (2023–2026) for the Islamic Republic of Iran, funded by the Russian Federation.

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For additional information please contact Sougand Babaei (Ms.)
National Programme Assistant, UNODC Country Office in the Islamic Republic of Iran
Tel.: +98 21 88 87 83 77, email: sougand.babaei@un.org