ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi intelligence on Friday seized over two million narcotic pills in the country’s capital of Baghdad, during a crackdown which saw the arrest of “major” drug traffickers linked to an “international network.”
“The National Intelligence Agency dismantled an international network specialized in drug trafficking, seizing more than two million narcotic pills,” Iraq’s Security Media Cell announced in a statement on X, without specifying what type of pills.
According to the statement the suspects were linked to an international drug trafficking network, and were planning to distribute the pills across several Iraqi provinces.
“The apprehended individuals and the confiscated items were subsequently referred to the relevant authorities,” read the statement.
The rate of drug addicts and dealers has been on an alarming rise in Iraq in recent years, despite strict measures taken by the Iraqi government to curb the phenomenon.
In mid-July, Iraq’s Rapid Response Forces and the General Directorate of Narcotics Control carried out what was labeled as the country’s first seizure of a captagon laboratory, in Muthanna province.
Prior to that Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani ordered the establishment of rehabilitation centers in all Iraqi provinces, excluding the Kurdistan Region, as part of his cabinet’s commitment to combating growing drug trade and use as seriously as the country fights terrorism.
In October, Iraqi security forces announced disbanding two “dangerous” drug-trafficking networks south of the country, arresting at least five suspects and seizing nearly 2,000 captagon pills.”
“The National Intelligence Agency dismantled an international network specialized in drug trafficking, seizing more than two million narcotic pills,” Iraq’s Security Media Cell announced in a statement on X, without specifying what type of pills.
According to the statement the suspects were linked to an international drug trafficking network, and were planning to distribute the pills across several Iraqi provinces.
“The apprehended individuals and the confiscated items were subsequently referred to the relevant authorities,” read the statement.
The rate of drug addicts and dealers has been on an alarming rise in Iraq in recent years, despite strict measures taken by the Iraqi government to curb the phenomenon.
In mid-July, Iraq’s Rapid Response Forces and the General Directorate of Narcotics Control carried out what was labeled as the country’s first seizure of a captagon laboratory, in Muthanna province.
Prior to that Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani ordered the establishment of rehabilitation centers in all Iraqi provinces, excluding the Kurdistan Region, as part of his cabinet’s commitment to combating growing drug trade and use as seriously as the country fights terrorism.
In October, Iraqi security forces announced disbanding two “dangerous” drug-trafficking networks south of the country, arresting at least five suspects and seizing nearly 2,000 captagon pills.”
Comments
Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.
To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.
We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.
Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.
Post a comment