Two individuals arrested in Akre for attempting to distribute narcotics. (Photo: screenshot from a video released by Akre Police Directorate)
Crystal meth
Police in Akre arrest two suspects for distribution of narcotics in the district
AKRE — Police in Akre announced on Tuesday the arrest of two individuals accused of attempting to distribute narcotics in the district. The authorities also seized six grams of crystal meth in their possession, which they allegedly intended to distribute.
Akre Police released a video showing the two suspects in custody, with Imad Hussein, the spokesperson for Akre Police, providing details of the operation.
Akre is located in the Duhok governorate.
According to the police, upon receiving intelligence, they coordinated with the Anti-Crime Unit and surveillance teams to locate and apprehend the suspects. The arrests were carried out swiftly, and the seized substance was identified as crystal meth.
Hussein stated that the suspects, who are not residents of Akre, were allegedly involved in drug distribution activities in the district. “They were handed over to the judiciary to face charges, and investigations are ongoing,” he said.
This case 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 apprehended on drug-related charges during the first 11 months of 2024.
Additionally, drug use and trafficking cases in the Penjwen district of Sulaymaniyah governorate tripled in 2024 compared to the previous year. In 2023, authorities recorded 12 cases related to drug use and trafficking in Penjwen, including one trafficking incident and 11 instances of drug use. By 2024, the number had risen to 46 cases, with five involving trafficking.
Iraq has seen am increase 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.