UN helped Iran expand anti-drug crackdown despite execution concerns

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has continued to support Iran in its anti-drug campaign, despite concerns over the fairness of trials and the potential for torture and execution of those convicted. In 2025, Iran seized 40,453 kilograms of methamphetamine, up from 30,393 kg in 2022, thanks to UN-provided advanced detection scanners. These scanners were partially funded by Japan and provided by the UNODC, which also trained Iran's Anti-Narcotics Police and Customs Administration on their use.

While the UNODC presents this support as crucial in the fight against international drug trafficking, the agency advocates for the complete abolition of the death penalty, which it deems incompatible with human rights. In 2025, nearly 1,000 out of 1,212 executions for drug offenses in Iran were carried out, with over 1,000 people awaiting execution. Many of those executed came from impoverished backgrounds and were allegedly minor players in the drug trade, with insufficient legal representation during their trials.

Human rights activists argue that UN assistance could bolster Iran's regime and its proxies, who also profit from drug trafficking. Anne Herzberg, legal adviser at NGO Monitor, pointed out that Iran's proxies rely on illicit drug funds, and Hezbollah reportedly profits from cocaine sales in Europe and trafficking cannabis and Captagon across the Lebanese-Syrian border.

UN Watch's Hillel Neuer called for safeguards on UN assistance, citing Iran's history of denying defendants due process and executing them in questionable cases. He emphasized that the UN's provision of sophisticated tools to a regime known for torture and executions raises serious ethical and legal concerns. UNODC did not respond to requests for comment.