The Global dimension

Drugs provide the world's largest illegal market. The UN and IMF have estimated annual global illicit drugs profits at $200 billion, with other forms of organised crime accounting for a further $100 billion. This is the equivalent to 5% of world trade.

The UN further estimates that the global regular illicit drugs users (drug taking more than once a week) is about 3.3% of the world population or over 200 million people. Of these up to 10 million use heroin and 15 million cocaine or crack cocaine. According to the IMF, the amount of money laundered globally each year is between 2% and 5% of world GDP, a minimum figure of $200 billion.

The British government has pledged to tackle drugs and crime as a top priority and is devoting significant resources to overseas counter narcotics and international crime work. The British Government’s annual spend on anti-drugs activities across government is over £1 billion annually.

British Embassy Tehran

The British Embassy is committed to combating the trade and abuse of illegal narcotics in Iran as well as supporting law enforcement efforts to reduce the amount of illicit narcotics being transported through Iran.  In conjunction with our partners such as UNODC and DCHQ we support a number of projects aimed at reducing the effects of illegal narcotics on the Iranian people and in preventing the smuggling of narcotics to other countries.

These projects concentrate on such areas as providing technical assistance and training to the Anti Narcotics Police as well as providing support for the victims of narcotics abuse.

Currently the projects we are supporting add up to over £2 million in support for efforts by the Iranian counter narcotics agencies and United Nations supported projects.