Ahmadinejad blames West for drug problem in region

Updated at: 1937 PST,  Sunday, June 26, 2011  TEHRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has blamed the West for the region's growing narcotics problems. Iranian state media, Press TV, also reported earlier in June that the Islamic state "blames the drug trafficking from Afghanistan to other parts of the world on foreign military presence in the region."  Speaking at an event marking the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Ahmadinejad claimed the West had brought drugs to the region to damage them. He said: "The day they (the West) came, the production of some drugs was increased 10-fold, 50-fold, even 100-fold.  "Why have they brought them (to the region)? To damage these nations." Around 8,000 former drug users, anti-narcotics forces and ministers had gathered in Tehran's Azadi stadium to mark the day.