use of advanced technologies – Aze.Media

A joint operation between the State Security Service and the State Border Service of Azerbaijan, which resulted in the interception of a drone, preventing a major shipment of drugs from Iran to the republic, has shown that Iranian drug dealers will stop at nothing to spread. narcotics, because not only large, but very large sums of money are at stake. This is despite the fact that Iran has one of the strictest legal frameworks regarding drug traffickers, where couriers face penalties ranging from long prison terms to the death penalty (the law applies not only to Iranian citizens but also to foreigners).

It is naive to assume that only border security systems will improve. The global drug mafia is evolving in parallel. Moreover, the country has all the means to transport drugs along designated routes, and Azerbaijan is located on one of the most important routes: the North Balkan Route. As is known, most of the drugs on this route are smuggled to European countries via Iran and Azerbaijan. Given that Afghanistan, which shares a long border with Iran, is one of the major producers of narcotics, the drug trafficking route to Europe via Iran, and then via neighboring Azerbaijan, is long-standing. In short, Iran serves as a major transit route for smuggled opiates from Afghanistan and Pakistan to the Gulf States, Russia and Europe.

Meanwhile, a drone carrying drugs was intercepted by Azerbaijani security forces for the first time, and this appears to be just the beginning. After this, the authorities responsible for security, both within the country and along its borders, must remain vigilant. Frankly, the Azerbaijani security forces deserve praise for their efforts, as it is not an easy task to ensure national security in an era of advanced information technologies.

However, opium-based medicines produced in Afghanistan will continue to flow to Central Asian countries, and drug shipments along traditional routes remain stable, as stated by several expert circles. At the same time, the composition of the seized drugs is changing, with methamphetamine playing an increasingly important role.

According to the annual report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Myanmar produced a record amount of opium in 2023, exceeding 1,000 tons for the first time in more than two decades, surpassing Afghanistan. After the Taliban came to power and imposed a ban on poppy cultivation, only 330 tons of opium were produced in Afghanistan last year – a 95% drop compared to 2021.

It should be noted that attempts have been made to block the Balkan route, and more than once. Moreover, official statements have been made about it, but the amount of smuggled drugs in Azerbaijan continues to grow despite stricter controls at the land borders. The majority of drugs seized in Azerbaijan consist of heroin, marijuana, opium and methamphetamine. Iran in particular continues to play an important role in the supply of synthetic drugs to Azerbaijan. It is estimated that up to 95% of the drugs circulating in Azerbaijan come from Iran, making it difficult to curb the flow.

As experts and law enforcement officials noted in a study, border closures have not led to a significant reduction in drug smuggling, indicating that drug dealers are seeking alternative methods. Nevertheless, Azerbaijan acts as a shield that protects Europe from drug trafficking and illegal migration.

Over the past decade, the number of crimes related to the illicit traffic of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors has increased fivefold (2,709 cases were registered in 2013, compared to 10,057 in 2023).

In the first half of 2024, 2,844 kg of drugs were seized from illegal traffic, compared to 2,921 kg in the same period the previous year. Although there is a slight decline, it is minimal and given the dire forecasts from experts, security forces must remain on high alert, especially as drones come into play.

Ramella Ibrahimkhalilova

Translated from minval.az