Salah Al-Din court sentences man to life for drug trafficking

SALAH AL-DIN — The Salah Al-Din Criminal Court on Wednesday sentenced a man to life in prison for drug trafficking, according to a statement from the court.

The court found the defendant guilty of possessing large quantities of illegal drugs, including crystal meth, opium, and heroin. Authorities also seized 48 ampoules, an electronic scale, and three glass pipes, along with other items used for the sale and consumption of narcotics.

Drug trafficking and abuse remain a major concern across Iraq. On Monday, Iraq’s Military Intelligence Directorate said its forces had seized a large quantity of narcotic pills in the Al-Shehiyat area of Anbar.

Earlier this month, authorities at the Shalamcheh border crossing in Basra arrested a foreign traveler after discovering narcotics hidden inside a water filter. The Border Crossing Directorate said the suspect was found with about half a kilogram of crystal meth and several Tramadol pills, which were “hidden professionally” in an attempt to smuggle them into Iraq.

Nationwide, the General Directorate of Narcotics Affairs reported seizing 250 kilograms of drugs and arresting 59 international dealers in September. In the first quarter of 2025, 3,006 individuals were arrested for drug-related crimes, and courts issued 973 sentences, according to an April report. Between January and August 2024, Iraqi courts handed down 140 death sentences and 500 life sentences in connection with narcotics offenses.