Drug raid in Hilla leaves officer dead, suspect arrested after gunfight

HILLA — A senior intelligence officer was killed and another wounded Thursday during a drug raid in the central Babil governorate, after a suspected trafficker opened fire on security forces attempting to arrest him, according to officials.

The operation occurred in the Bakrli neighborhood of central Hilla, where anti-narcotics officers were pursuing a known drug dealer. A security source told 964media that “the officer killed in the operation today is Mohammed Qasim, head of the Musayyib Intelligence Division, along with another lieutenant who was injured.”

“The suspect surprised the force with gunfire during the raid,” the source added. “He was also injured and arrested at the scene, and was carrying a Kalashnikov rifle.”

In a statement, the Interior Ministry confirmed the details, saying the Babil Anti-Narcotics Directorate “carried out a high-level operation to pursue a drug trafficker. Following an exchange of gunfire, the target was neutralized, and one of our personnel was killed while another officer was injured.”

The ministry also reported a second fatality during the raid. “The Minister of Interior has ordered a high-level investigative committee to determine the circumstances of this person’s death, and whether he was a wanted individual or simply present at the scene by mistake,” the statement said.

Authorities said legal procedures were initiated immediately and pledged full transparency. “We are handling the case with full legal responsibility and transparency,” the ministry added.

The raid is part of what officials describe as Iraq’s largest anti-narcotics campaign to date. Over the past two years, security forces have dismantled nearly 656 domestic and international drug networks, according to Brig. Gen. Miqdad Miri, Interior Ministry spokesperson.

“This is the highest number ever recorded in Iraq’s fight against this crime,” Miri told 964media.