Miqdad Miri, spokesperson for the interior ministry, told Iraqi state-owned al-Sabah newspaper that a total of 204 local drug trafficking networks and 20 international networks have been dismantled since 2023.
“After disengaging the narcotics control directorate from the ministry’s agency for police affairs, and linking it to the minister’s office during the year 2022, it achieved very high results, after gaining the necessary support, including vehicles and weapons, and harnessing the intelligence effort, security regiments, rapid response, and federal forces,” said Miri.
Over 1.5 tons of narcotics have been seized in the first six months of 2024, according to the spokesperson, adding that around five tons of psychotropic substances have been confiscated since 2023.
At least 17 drug suspects were killed in clashes with security forces in 2023, while at least four have been killed since the start of the year, Miri added.
There has been an alarming rise in drug dealing and use in Iraq in recent years, despite strict measures taken by the government to curb the phenomenon.
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani has ordered the establishment of rehabilitation centers in all Iraqi provinces, excluding the Kurdistan Region, as part of his cabinet’s commitment to combat drugs with the same determination as it fights terrorism.
On Sunday, a Baghdad court sentenced seven drug traffickers to death, including a convict of foreign nationality.
In 2023, more than 19,000 people were arrested across Iraq on drug-related charges and over 15 tons of psychotropic substances were seized.
