Police confirm arrest, hospitalization
Pre-dawn shootout in Kirkuk leaves suspected drug dealer injured
KIRKUK – A shootout took place on a street in Kirkuk between an individual suspected of drug trafficking and police officers early this morning at 4:00 a.m. The individual, who was injured during the incident, has been taken into custody.
According to local authorities, the suspect had a two-ton Kia vehicle and was allegedly involved in drug trafficking activities.
A source from the Arefa police station, located on Arefa Street near the Shahi Zhian Mall in Kirkuk, revealed to 964edia that the suspect was apprehended after falling into a police trap and attempting to flee. The confrontation with the anti-narcotics police led to the suspect’s injury, arrest, and subsequent hospitalization.
The police source further indicated that an investigation has revealed that the individual is wanted by the court on drug trafficking charges.
Drug trafficking has become a persistent issue in Iraq, suspected 144 international drug traffickers were arrested in 2023 alone.
Moreover, raids conducted last year against drug dealers resulted in the seizure of four tons of narcotics, 15 tons of psychotropic substances, along with 1,700 firearms and 1,200 vehicles.
The penalties for drug traffickers in Iraq range from several years’ imprisonment to life sentences and even the death penalty.