Authorities seize 26 kilograms of narcotics in Erbil over two weeks

ERBIL — In a crackdown on narcotics trafficking, authorities in Erbil arrested 11 individuals and confiscated more than 26 kilograms of drugs over the past two weeks, according to Erkan Omar, head of the media department at the Kurdistan Region’s Directorate of Drug Control.

Omar told 964media on Tuesday that the seized substances included crystal meth, hashish and heroin. All suspects have been referred for investigation to face legal consequences.

“We will not allow anyone to become a source of drug distribution in the Kurdistan Region,” Omar said.

Officials noted that drug transactions frequently occur in crowded public spaces, prompting heightened surveillance and rapid responses by law enforcement.

The recent operation is part of a series of actions against drug trafficking in the region. On Feb. 13, Erbil Security Forces intercepted 1.5 kilograms of heroin smuggled into the Kurdistan Region via a commercial shipping company, where the drugs were concealed in nonstick frying pans and pots. Just days earlier, on Feb. 4, security forces reported the seizure of more than 25 kilograms of crystal meth smuggled through a transportation company based in Sulaymaniyah. Earlier still, on Jan. 21, the Erbil Security Directorate announced the arrest of three suspects and the confiscation of 11.4 kilograms of narcotics.

Nationwide efforts have also intensified. On Dec. 21, 2024, Iraq’s General Directorate for Narcotics Affairs reported the arrest of 14,000 individuals linked to drug trafficking as part of an expanded crackdown. Iraqi law prescribes severe penalties for drug offenses, including lengthy prison terms and, in extreme cases, the death penalty.

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