Kurdish security forces seize nearly 21kg of crystal meth

HALABJA – Kurdish security forces seized more than 20 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and arrested two suspected drug traffickers during an operation in the Khurmal district of Halabja governorate late on Dec. 12, 2024, the Kurdistan Region Security Directorate announced.

The operation, conducted in coordination with the Sharazur Security Directorate, was based on intelligence and surveillance and carried out under judicial orders.

“The suspects were found in possession of 20 kilograms and 965 grams of crystal methamphetamine,” the Security Directorate said in a statement. “The seized drugs were intended for distribution within the Kurdistan Region and other parts of Iraq.”

Both suspects were charged under Article 25 of the Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law, and investigations are ongoing, the statement added.

This seizure is part of a broader campaign by Kurdish authorities to crack down on drug trafficking networks in the region. On Dec. 11, the Anti-Narcotics Directorate of the Kurdistan Region Security Directorate which is responsible for Sulaymaniyah and Halabja governorates announced that 1,019 suspects had been arrested on drug-related charges during the first 11 months of 2024. These efforts have led to the seizure of over three tons of various narcotics, including heroin, cocaine, captagon pills, crystal meth, opium, hashish, ecstasy, and tramadol pills. Authorities also confiscated 121,330 pills of various types.

“In 2024, the directorate carried out 23 joint operations in collaboration with the Iraqi government and other security forces in the Kurdistan Region,” officials stated during a press conference. They also reported dismantling 25 local and international drug trafficking networks, noting that smugglers frequently use the Kurdistan Region as a transit hub.

Looking ahead to 2025, the directorate reaffirmed its commitment to combating narcotics through continued arrests, public awareness campaigns, and enhanced cooperation with citizens and law enforcement agencies.

“With the support of informed citizens and the dedication of our officers and staff, we are working tirelessly to prevent the use, trafficking, and transfer of these substances in the region,” the statement concluded.