ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s National Security Service (NSS) on Sunday announced the arrest of one the most notorious drug dealers in Baghdad.
According to a statement from the NSS, relayed by the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), the arrest was made after thorough intelligence monitoring.
“The operation also resulted in the seizure of 1,350 LSD patches [tabs], more than 12 kilograms of marijuana, 800 grams of cocaine, in addition to 1,850 narcotic pills and drug paraphernalia,” it added.
Of note, LSD patches are a form of transdermal delivery system sometimes used to administer drugs through the skin.
The suspect was apprehended “red-handed” and “sentenced to death” by a Baghdad criminal court in accordance with Article 27 of Iraq’s Anti-Narcotics Law. This article prescribes severe penalties, including the death penalty or life imprisonment, for individuals involved in the trafficking, production, or cultivation of narcotic or psychotropic substances.
This latest bust is part of Iraq’s ongoing counter-narcotics efforts. Since the start of 2025, Baghdad authorities have seized nearly 2.86 tons of illicit substances.
Iraq in mid-March announced the seizure of some 1.1 tons of Captagon flowing in from Syria, with the help of the Kurdistan Region and Saudi Arabia.
In early March, Iraq’s narcotics control directorate reported that Baghdad had seized some 1.75 tons of illicit substances since the beginning of 2025 and made 2,000 arrests in the process.
In December, a total of 6 tons and 183 kilograms of illicit drugs were seized in 2024, with 14,483 suspects arrested. Among those, 144 individuals were sentenced to death for international drug smuggling, while 454 local dealers were given life sentences, each lasting 20 years.
Speaking to Rudaw in late February, the head of Iraq’s Security Media Cell, Major General Saad Maan, described drug trafficking as "the most widespread crime" in Iraq, highlighting that Erbil and Baghdad are working jointly and with regional neighbours to address the issue.
Maan also noted that drugs are mostly imported into Iraq, though there have been "failed attempts" to produce Crystal Meth and Captagon locally, which are among the most commonly abused substances in the country.
