BERLIN -- An Iranian judicial delegation, led by the Head of the Tehran Justice Department, Abbasali Alizadeh, arrived here Monday afternoon to discuss ways of combating narcotics and money laundering, an Iranian Embassy press statement announced.

It added that the Iranian group, made up of representatives of the Judiciary, the Presidential Office and the Anti-Drug Headquarters, met Monday evening with officials of the German Foreign Ministry.

The delegation was also scheduled to meet with officials from the German Interior Ministry and the Federal Crime Office (BKA).

Talks will focus on the need to strengthen legal and judicial cooperation between the two countries, IRNA reported.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has been playing a key role in stemming the flow of narcotics to Europe from Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Thousands of Iranian policemen and soldiers have been killed in clashes with drug gangs over the past 20 years.