Baghdad court sentences two to death for drug trafficking

BAGHDAD — The Karkh Criminal Court in Baghdad on Monday sentenced two people to death after finding them guilty of drug trafficking, according to a statement from Iraq’s judiciary.

The court said the defendants were caught with 102 kilograms of Captagon and 96 kilograms of hashish intended for sale and distribution.

Drug trafficking and abuse remain a major concern in Iraq, where authorities have stepped up enforcement and cross-border coordination in recent years. In late October, the Salah Al-Din Criminal Court sentenced a man to life in prison for drug trafficking, while Interior Minister Abdul Amir Al-Shammari announced in July the dismantling of a major cross-border network that smuggled over 1.35 million Captagon pills in coordination with Syrian security forces.

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 alone, 3,006 individuals were arrested for drug-related offenses, 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 crimes.