The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime helped Iran procure advanced detection scanners to combat methamphetamine trafficking at the country’s borders. The UN handled the international procurement and handover of the equipment, and provided training to Iran’s Anti-Narcotics Police and Customs Administration on how to use the technology.

Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, stated: "The UN should not be helping Iran’s brutal regime catch people whom it may then torture into confessing and execute after sham trials." He called for an explanation of what safeguards the UN imposed on the use of the scanners. Neuer stated: "The UN needs to explain what safeguards it imposed, whether it tracks what happens to people arrested using its equipment, and whether it can guarantee that its assistance is not facilitating death sentences." He added that if the UN cannot provide those guarantees, the assistance should stop.

Anne Herzberg, legal adviser at NGO Monitor, stated: "Moreover, it appears Iran uses drug-related charges as a pretext to jail and execute dissidents." She also stated: "It beggars belief that Iran is not aware of, does not profit off of, nor [is] heavily enmeshed in Hezbollah drug trafficking." The IDF stated that Hezbollah has been funded through cocaine sales in Europe and is heavily involved in trafficking cannabis and Captagon along the Lebanese-Syrian border.

Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, stated that the large majority of those executed for drug offenses came from a background of poverty. Many of those executed were alleged to have worked in only minor roles in the drug trade and were denied proper due process during their trial.

A large number of executions for drug-related offenses in 2025 were carried out by Iran. Over 1,000 people were awaiting execution for drug-related offenses in Iran at the time of the Harm Reduction International report. Iranian seizures of meth increased from 30,393 kilograms in 2022 to 40,453 kilograms in 2025.

In the first quarter of 2026, authorities in Iran intercepted 3,663 kilograms of methamphetamines headed for Europe and the Persian Gulf. Authorities conducted five intelligence-led operations targeting massive meth shipments from Afghanistan. The UNODC has worked to strengthen Iran’s forensic capabilities in identifying new synthetic compounds. At least part of the technology was funded by Japan, according to a 2018 UN announcement.

Timeline

In 2018, at least part of the technology was funded by Japan, according to a 2018 UN announcement. By December 31, 2025, a large number of executions for drug-related offenses in 2025 were carried out by Iran. In the first quarter of 2026, authorities in Iran intercepted 3,663 kilograms of methamphetamines headed for Europe and the Persian Gulf.

What's New

Additional reporting indicates that authorities in Iran intercepted 3,663 kilograms of methamphetamines headed for Europe and the Persian Gulf in the first quarter of 2026. The UNODC has worked to strengthen Iran’s forensic capabilities in identifying new synthetic compounds.

Authorities also conducted five intelligence-led operations targeting massive meth shipments from Afghanistan.

Why It Matters

The provision of advanced detection technology by the UNODC intersects with a high volume of capital punishment in Iran for drug-related offenses. With a large number of executions carried out in 2025 and over 1,000 individuals awaiting execution, the equipment may facilitate deaths following trials lacking due process.

Watchdogs question whether the UN tracks the outcomes for individuals arrested using its equipment or can guarantee the assistance does not lead to death sentences. The debate centers on whether international support for border security inadvertently supports a system that targets dissidents and impoverished individuals in minor roles within the drug trade.