Rusafa police arrest four for drug use in public parks

BAGHDAD — Rusafa Police arrested four individuals for using narcotics in public parks in the Zayouna area, authorities said Monday.

According to a statement from Rusafa Police, security forces acted on intelligence of drug use in nearby parks.

The suspects were found in possession of drug sachets and were taken into custody.

This development follows a Sunday announcement from Iraq’s interior ministry, which reported the seizure of more than a ton of captagon tablets smuggled from Syria via Turkey.

By August 2014, the Ministry of Interior had issued 140 death sentences and 500 life sentences related to drug offenses. In 2023, authorities arrested more than 19,000 people for drug offenses, seized over 15 tons of psychotropic substances, and killed at least 17 drug suspects during clashes with security forces.