Latest news with #BorderCrossingsAuthority
Shafaq News
14-05-2025
- Shafaq News
Iraq seizes 600K captagon pills at Kuwait crossing
Shafaq News/ Iraqi authorities intercepted a major drug smuggling attempt at the Safwan border crossing with Kuwait, the Border Crossings Authority announced on Wednesday. Spokesperson Alaa al-Qaisi revealed to Shafaq News that 600,000 Captagon pills, amounting to 104 kilograms, had been hidden in 'expertly modified compartments' within a four-wheel drive vehicle, suggesting the involvement of a sophisticated trafficking network. 'The vehicle was driven by a foreign passport holder attempting to exit Iraq.' Iraq lies on key trafficking routes connecting Southwest Asia, the Gulf, and Europe. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has raised concerns about the country's increasing role as a transit point for substances like Captagon and methamphetamine. UNODC data also indicates a sharp increase in drug seizures, with warnings that Iraq may be evolving from a passageway into a site of production and growing domestic consumption.
Shafaq News
18-04-2025
- Shafaq News
Two in one day: Iraq busts major drug smuggle at Shalamcheh border
Shafaq News/ On Friday, Iraqi authorities intercepted a major drug smuggling attempt at the Shalamcheh border crossing in Basra province. The Border Crossings Authority reported that officials arrested a foreign traveler after discovering 7,850 narcotic pills and 960 grams of crystal meth hidden inside pastries. Authorities handed over the suspect—who used what they called a 'professional method' of concealment—along with the seized substances to the Basra Directorate of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances for legal action. Earlier today, authorities arrested another foreign traveler attempting to smuggle over 4,000 narcotic pills hidden in an electric food processor. Iraq lies on key trafficking routes connecting Southwest Asia, the Gulf, and Europe. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has raised concerns about the country's increasing role as a transit point for substances like Captagon and methamphetamine. UNODC data also indicates a sharp increase in drug seizures, with warnings that Iraq may be evolving from a passageway into a site of production and growing domestic consumption.
Shafaq News
18-04-2025
- Shafaq News
Iraq arrests foreign traveler with over 4,500 drug pills at Shalamcheh border
Shafaq News/ Iraqi border authorities arrested a foreign traveler attempting to smuggle thousands of drug pills into the country through the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran. In a statement, the Border Crossings Authority said its officers at the Shalamcheh checkpoint apprehended the traveler in possession of 4,575 narcotic pills hidden inside an electric appliance. Authorities said the suspect and the seized narcotics were referred to the Basra Directorate for Drugs and Psychotropic Substances for further investigation. Iraq lies at the heart of several transnational drug routes linking Southwest Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, and Europe. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the country has increasingly become a transit point for illegal substances, especially Captagon and methamphetamine, fueling regional organized crime and armed groups. UNODC data shows a sharp rise in drug seizures in recent years, with authorities warning of Iraq's growing role not just as a trafficking corridor but also as a potential site for drug production and consumption.
Shafaq News
04-03-2025
- Health
- Shafaq News
Iraq tightens border livestock checks
Shafaq News/ Iraq's Border Crossings Authority announced, on Tuesday, stricter veterinary controls to safeguard livestock and prevent the spread of animal diseases, particularly foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), which officials say is now under control. At the Trebil border crossing, authorities have intensified inspections in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture's Veterinary Department. Livestock exports are now subject to detailed health checks by joint committees from the ministry and veterinary quarantine teams. To prevent disease transmission, veterinary teams at Trebil have begun inspecting sheep to ensure they are disease-free and safe for consumption. Meanwhile, the Authority reaffirmed its commitment to blocking the entry of expired, spoiled, or contaminated food and animal products. These heightened measures follow recent FMD outbreaks in Baghdad and surrounding areas. On Sunday, the parliamentary agriculture committee confirmed that the disease had been contained, preventing further spread.
