Ambassador Haneda of Japan in Tehran visits the Iranian Police Drug Dog Center

His Excellency Ambassador Koji Haneda of Japan and UNODC Iran visited the Iranian Police Drug Detecting Dog center in Karaj. The visitors were received by Brigadier General Mirzaee, Deputy Head of Anti-Narcotics Police and Colonel Barin Head of the Dog Center, AVA Diplomatic reports.

The visit was a good opportunity for Japan to see first-hand delivery of the UNODC procured K9 accessories to the Police. A demonstration of agility exercises and obedience, drug search and seizure took place followed by a tour of the center’s facilities. The center has expanded its capacity of Drug K9 teams throughout the country thanks to the support of the Government of Japan and UNODC.

Ambassador Haneda received a briefing on the Iranian Police drug dog units capacities and operations, and effectiveness of the trained dogs as the main factor behind the seizures of 40 tons of different types of drugs such as opiates, cannabis methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs so far in 2015; 10% of all drug seizures in Iran during the same period.

The Center accommodates around 150 trained dogs. Every K9 is assigned to a trained handler. There are 12 senior instructors and over 70 police trainees that are to expand the Center’s capacities in tackling illicit drug trafficking throughout the country. The activities of the donated drug dogs by Japan under UNODC Programme have been imperative in seizing sizable amounts of illicit cargoes of heroin to the third destinations.

Iranian Anti Narcotics Police further appreciated the Government and the People of Japan for supporting the drug control efforts under the UNODC Programme and asked for continuation of Japan’s and UNODC technical cooperation with the Iranian Police and Drug Detecting Dog center.