Basra
Iraqi woman arrested with crystal meth, tramadol at Shalamcheh border
BASRA — Authorities at the Shalamcheh border crossing arrested an Iraqi woman on Sunday after discovering narcotics hidden in her footwear and clothing, according to the Border Crossings Authority.
Officials said the woman was found carrying one kilogram of crystal meth concealed inside her shoes, along with 3,790 tramadol pills and four grams of marijuana hidden in a shawl.
The arrest was part of a coordinated operation involving female inspectors from the border directorate, the Anti-Narcotics Division, the technical unit, and Customs Police. An official seizure report was filed, and the suspect was transferred to the Shalamcheh Customs Police Station for legal proceedings.
The arrest came less than 24 hours after authorities at the same crossing apprehended a foreign traveler attempting to smuggle 1.45 kilograms of crystal meth hidden inside slices of bread and a sealed metal pipe.
Iraq has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking and abuse. In 2023, authorities arrested more than 19,000 people for drug-related offenses, seized over 15 tons of narcotics, and reported at least 17 suspects killed in clashes with security forces.
Between January and August 2024, courts issued 140 death sentences and 500 life sentences in connection with drug crimes. So far this year, authorities have seized 2.156 tons of narcotics and arrested 1,559 individuals, including 194 foreign nationals.
On March 16, security forces announced the seizure of more than one metric ton of captagon tablets smuggled from Syria through Turkey.
