Suspected drug dealer arrested after shooting injures four officers in Basra

BASRA – Four police officers were injured in the early hours of Thursday in a shooting involving a suspected drug dealer in the Maqal district of Basra, according to a security source.

The suspect, riding a motorcycle, opened fire on police officers attempting to stop him, leaving three officers in critical condition and one with moderate injuries. Security forces were immediately mobilized to track down the suspect.

“A swift operation was launched, and the suspect was apprehended hiding under a vehicle in the Yassin Khoribet area,” the security source told 964media.

The injured officers were transported to the hospital for treatment, while the suspect has been detained for investigation.

Iraq has seen a surge in drug-related crimes, prompting strict measures by authorities. As of November 2024, nearly 8,000 individuals have been arrested on drug-related charges since the start of the year, with authorities confiscating approximately 2.2 tons of various narcotics. The Ministry of Interior reported issuing 140 death sentences and 500 life sentences by August, reflecting the government’s aggressive stance against drug trafficking and distribution networks.

In one recent case, the Basra Criminal Court handed down life sentences on November 28 to two individuals convicted of drug trafficking. According to the Judicial Media Center, one was caught with 1.51 kilograms of methamphetamine, while the other was importing the substance from a neighboring country for distribution within Iraq.