Detainee found dead in Zubair anti-narcotics prison cell

BASRA — A 55-year-old detainee held at the anti-narcotics prison in the al-Shuaiba area of Zubair, west of Basra, was found dead in his cell on Sunday, a security source told 964media.

“The deceased was being held under Article 28 of the Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law and was found dead inside his cell,” the source said. “The cause of death has not yet been determined.”

The man had previously served a seven-year sentence for drug trafficking and was released before being re-arrested about a month ago on new charges.

Authorities have launched a preliminary investigation and transferred the body to the forensic medicine department for examination and to determine the cause of death.

In the first quarter of 2025, Iraqi authorities arrested 3,006 individuals on drug-related charges and confiscated over two tons of narcotics nationwide. The General Directorate for Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Affairs reported that 973 people were sentenced for drug offenses during this period. Operations led by the special investigations division resulted in the seizure of 1,538 kilograms of various narcotic substances.