Two arrested in Baghdad with crystal meth and drug paraphernalia

BAGHDAD – Baghdad Police Command announced on Monday the arrest of two suspects found in possession of crystal meth and drug paraphernalia.

In a statement, the command said, “Under the supervision and follow-up of the Baghdad Al-Rusafa Police Commander, patrols from Al-Malaab Police Station and Al-Rashad Second Emergency Police, in cooperation with other security agencies, arrested two suspects found in possession of crystal meth and drug paraphernalia.”

The arrests were made during a joint security operation, and the suspects have been detained pending the completion of legal procedures.

Iraq has seen a rise in drug-related crimes in recent years, 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.

The Second Baghdad International Conference on Combating Drugs was held in late-July, bringing together representatives from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt, aiming to regional cooperation in combating drug trafficking.

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