Iraq seizes half ton of drugs, arrests 1,600 suspects since January

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Interior Ministry said Saturday that anti-narcotics authorities have seized more than half a ton of drugs and arrested over 1,600 suspects since the beginning of the year, as part of operations targeting local and international trafficking networks.

Brig. Gen. Ziad al-Qaisi, director of media for the General Directorate of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Affairs, said the directorate “has carried out precise security operations targeting local and international networks to seize narcotic substances and arrest traffickers and users.”

“The operations also resulted in the arrest of more than 1,600 persons involved in cases of trafficking, promotion, transportation and use,” al-Qaisi said.

He said the judiciary has issued more than 740 rulings against the accused, including more than 20 death sentences and more than 50 life imprisonment sentences.

“These results were achieved through the implementation of several internal and external operations to dismantle organized networks,” he said, adding that work was based on “accurate intelligence information and continuous security efforts.”

Al-Qaisi said the directorate has strengthened international cooperation “through 36 international contact points to exchange intelligence information with neighboring and regional countries.”

Iraq has intensified anti-narcotics operations over the past year. On Feb. 10, the National Intelligence Service said it dismantled a five-member network inside Syria planning to smuggle more than 200,000 Captagon pills into Iraq. In December, authorities arrested four internationally wanted suspects and seized 200,000 Captagon pills in a joint operation with Syrian security forces near the border.

Earlier crackdowns included the confiscation of 250 kilograms of drugs and the arrest of 59 international dealers in September, while courts issued 81 international arrest warrants in July in coordination with Interpol.