Life sentence for drug trafficker convicted in Najaf

NAJAF — The Najaf Criminal Court has sentenced a drug trafficker to life imprisonment on charges of trafficking opium and methamphetamine, according to a statement released by the judiciary on Sunday.

“The convict was found in possession of 32 tablets, 800 grams of methamphetamine, in addition to 100 grams of opium intended for trafficking and sale among users, as well as drug paraphernalia and four electronic scales,” the statement added.

The court issued the sentence under Article 28, Paragraph 1 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act No. 50 of 2017, which mandates life imprisonment for drug traffickers.

Since January, Iraqi authorities have apprehended nearly 8,000 individuals on drug-related charges, seizing approximately 2.2 tons of various narcotics.

By early August, Iraq’s Ministry of Interior reported issuing 140 death sentences and 500 life sentences to convicted drug traffickers.

A March 2024 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime underscored a significant surge in drug activity across Iraq. Methamphetamine seizures in 2023 were nearly six times higher than in 2019, while captagon seizures tripled between 2022 and 2023. The total volume of drugs confiscated in 2023 was 34 times greater than in 2019.

In 2023 alone, more than 19,000 individuals were arrested on drug-related offenses, and over 15 tons of psychotropic substances were confiscated. The Ministry of Interior also reported that at least 17 drug suspects were killed during confrontations with security forces throughout the year.