Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari directed “to continue coordination with the Iraqi judiciary to implement arrest warrants against those wanted for the crime and follow up on issues and recommendations to support the work of the [anti-narcotics],” state media said, citing an interior ministry statement on an anti-narcotics directorate meeting in Baghdad.
During the meeting, Shammari also urged the importance of education awareness campaigns to combat rising drug use in the country, with the current cabinet of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani also establishing rehabilitation centers in all provinces – excluding the Kurdistan Region – to combat the growing drug trade and use.
Drug dealing and usage in Iraq is rising at an alarming rate, despite strict governmental measures to combat the phenomenon.
Sudani has repeatedly stated that his cabinet is committed to fighting drugs as seriously as the country fights terrorism.
In 2023, more than 19,000 people were arrested across Iraq on drug-related charges, according to Baghdad, and over 15 tons of psychotropic substances were seized.
Iraq’s judiciary has handed down strict sentences for drug-related crime, including 140 death sentences and 500 life imprisonment (20 years in Iraqi law) sentences for smugglers and dealers since the start of 2023, according to official data from the interior ministry.
