Life sentence issued to drug dealer in Wasit

WASIT—The Wasit Criminal Court issued a life sentence on Monday to a convict found guilty of drug trafficking after being caught in possession of over two kilograms of methamphetamine.

According to a statement from the judiciary’s media office, the convict was apprehended with the narcotic substance intended for distribution and sale among users.

The ruling was issued in accordance with Article 27/First of the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law No. 50 of 2017, in conjunction with Articles 47, 48, and 49 of the Iraqi Penal Code.

Iraq has experienced a rise in drug-related crimes, prompting authorities to enforce stricter measures. By November 2024, nearly 8,000 people had been arrested on drug-related charges since the start of the year, with around 2.2 tons of narcotics confiscated. By August, the Ministry of Interior had reported issuing 140 death sentences and 500 life sentences.

In 2023, authorities arrested over 19,000 individuals for drug-related offenses and seized more than 15 tons of psychotropic substances. The Ministry of Interior also reported that at least 17 drug suspects were killed in clashes with security forces during that year.