Latest news with #GeneralDirectorateforDrugAffairs
Shafaq News
03-07-2025
- Shafaq News
+60Kg seized: Security forces arrest two drug traffickers in northern Iraq
Shafaq News – Iraqi Kurdistan Iraqi security forces, in collaboration with Kurdistan Region agencies, arrested two senior drug traffickers and seized a large cache of narcotics in northern Iraq, officials reported on Thursday. The suspects were captured with 62 kilograms of drugs, including crystal meth and marijuana, during a joint operation supported by federal security units, Colonel Salam Abdulkhaliq, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Region's Asayish, told Shafaq News, without providing further details on the suspects' identities or the exact arrest location. Meanwhile, the federal General Directorate for Drug Affairs confirmed that coordinated intelligence between al-Karkh and al-Sulaymaniyah anti-narcotics divisions led to the discovery of 41 kilograms of crystal meth and 21 kilograms of marijuana. Iraq sits on key smuggling routes linking Southwest Asia, the Gulf, and Europe. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has repeatedly warned about Iraq's growing role as a transit hub for substances such as Captagon and methamphetamine.
Shafaq News
11-02-2025
- Shafaq News
Iraq seizes 208 kg of drugs, dismantles trafficking network in two provinces
Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, Iraqi authorities seized over 200 kg of drugs and dismantled a trafficking network in two provinces. "A recent high-quality intelligence operation led to the arrest of three drug traffickers, the dismantling of their network, and the seizure of 208 kilograms of Captagon pills in Nineveh and Kirkuk," the General Directorate for Drug Affairs stated. The operation was reportedly conducted in cooperation with the Iraqi National Intelligence Service and the Kurdistan Region's Anti-Narcotics Directorate in Erbil. In February, Iraq sentenced three drug traffickers to life in prison after convicting them of dealing narcotics. Security forces also seized a vehicle containing 7 million Captagon pills in Baghdad, following several days of surveillance and a 'well-executed' ambush operation, destroyed a large cache of narcotics in Basra, and arrested three drug traffickers in Nineveh. However, drug trafficking cases during the month decreased by 18%, and drug use incidents fell by 15%, according to the Interior Ministry. Iraq's Drug Issue Iraq has grappled with a worsening drug problem in recent years, attributed to a mix of geographic, social, and political factors. Its location, bordering countries with drug production and trafficking networks, has positioned it as a critical transit point for narcotics smuggling. Drugs such as methamphetamines, heroin, and cannabis are frequently transported through Iraq, targeting both local consumption and international markets. The country's fight against drug trafficking has made significant progress despite mounting challenges, with numerous local and international drug networks dismantled in 2023, 2024, and 2025, a senior official told our agency. In 2023, over 7,000 individuals were sentenced for drug-related crimes, with penalties ranging from life imprisonment to the death penalty. In 2024, 14,438 individuals were arrested on charges related to drug trafficking, promotion, and personal use, with 8,930 convicted by the judiciary.
