Iraq is transitioning ‘from consumer to producer’ of crystal meth, says head of parliamentary drug committee

BAGHDAD — Adnan Al-Juhaishi, head of the Iraq’s Parliamentary Committee on Drugs and Psychotropic Substances suggests that some prime ministers, ministers, and governors may be implicated in drug-related activities, blaming the current government for the spread of drug trade within Iraqi prisons. The committee also confirmed Iraq’s transformation from a consumer to a producer and exporter of crystal meth, highlighting that drugs are entering the country through official border crossings as documented by the United Nations. He also said that there are “conspiracies” to dissolve the committee without clear justification. He added that four crystal meth factories have been uncovered across Iraq, including one in Sulaymaniyah, signaling a dangerous trend of increasing production capabilities.

Excerpts from Al-Juhaishi’s interview with Al-Rasheed Chanel:

Since money plays a significant role in the electoral process, it is likely that some prime ministers, ministers, and governors are involved with drug mafias.

I told the prime minister, during a broad meeting attended by all of Iraq’s governors, that there was no national will to combat drugs in previous periods. However, today, such a will exists, albeit at no more than 25%.

Three months ago, we received a report from the United Nations stating that drugs enter Iraq through official border crossings. I confronted the responsible security agencies with this, but their excuses were weak, claiming they lack modern detection equipment.

We have uncovered four crystal meth factories in Iraq, one of which was in Sulaymaniyah. This is a dangerous indicator of the existence of many more factories in other provinces. As a result, Iraq has transitioned from being a transit country to a consumer and now a producer of drugs, with some of these substances being exported to Gulf countries.

There are conspiracies against the Parliamentary Drug Committee, with demands to dissolve the committee without clear reasons. The defense and health committees have both requested its dissolution and incorporation into their jurisdictions.

Drug trade and use exist within all Iraqi prisons. Any health committee could conduct tests on prisoners to verify this. However, we can save some of our youth from this scourge through an amnesty law. The condition of prisons is deplorable in terms of overcrowding, poor food quality, and lack of healthcare, where the most dangerous diseases are prevalent. The government bears full responsibility for this.