TEHRAN – Iranian and Filipino officials have explored the potential to enhance ties in combating narcotics.

In a meeting held on Tuesday, Mohammad Narimani, an official with Drug Control Headquarters (DCHQ), and Roberto G. Manola, the Philippines’ ambassador to Tehran, agreed to draft a memorandum of understanding on determining cooperation mechanisms, IRNA reported. 

During the meeting, Narimani highlighted Iran’s accomplishments in prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and harm reduction services, saying that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) established the Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies in 2019.

Elaborating on the DCHQ measures from 2019 to 2025, Narimani said Iranian anti-narcotics police discovered and seized 118 tons of heroin, 120 tons of morphine, about 4,000 tons of opium, 850 tons of hashish, and 210 tons of methamphetamine.

In 2025, they confiscated over 375 tons of different illegal drugs, including 40 tons of methamphetamine, and disbanded over 2,000 regional and international drug trafficking gangs, the official noted.

For his part, Manola said the policies of the former president in the country focused mainly on intensifying countermeasures, while the current president has also highlighted the importance of reducing demand.

 Industrial drugs are manufactured by Filipino nationals, while foreign nationals manage and transmit them.

Pregnant women and underage children are frequently used to smuggle drugs, he added.

The official went on to say that the Philippines is exposed to diversion of chemical precursors from China, which is very difficult to combat.

Enhancing national capacity

The UNODC, in close collaboration with the Iranian DCHQ and the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MoHME), held a training workshop aimed at enhancing the competencies of drug use disorder treatment professionals through the systematic application of the UNODC TreatNet Training Package.

The NODC continues to support the strengthening of evidence-based drug treatment services in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The three-day workshop, titled “Assessment and Elements of Psychological Treatment for Drug Use Disorders”, was held in Tehran from December 28 to 30 as part of a broader series of capacity-building initiatives, the UN Iran website announced in a press release on January 5.

The workshop brought together psychologists, counsellors, and treatment professionals from national institutions, including Prisons Organization and MoHME-affiliated services and other relevant organizations involved in treatment, and social support. The training was delivered using the UNODC TreatNet package, which provides standardized, evidence-based guidance for the assessment and treatment of drug use disorders.

The three-day agenda was designed to combine theoretical knowledge with practical skills development. Participants were introduced to the TreatNet framework and its application in the treatment of drug and alcohol use disorders.

Particular emphasis was placed on the logic of screening and the use of the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST), including brief interventions and their role in early detection and timely referral.

Core principles of motivational interviewing were introduced and explored, with a strong focus on their practical application in clinical and counselling settings to enhance client engagement and treatment adherence.

Finally, the treatment planning and prioritization, translating assessment results into structured and individualized treatment plans was covered by the training. Participants further explored strategies for putting treatment planning into practice and for supporting patients through the development of new coping and life skills.

MT/MG