Baghdad intelligence unit arrests 15 in drug trafficking sweep, military says

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Military Intelligence Directorate said Tuesday it arrested 15 people accused of drug trafficking and distribution in multiple areas of Baghdad during an operation carried out with Baghdad Operations Command.

In a statement, the directorate said the arrests followed directives to strengthen coordination with other security agencies to combat narcotics activity. It said the suspects were detained based on “accurate intelligence information” and through surprise checkpoints set up by joint patrols from the Intelligence and Security Division of Baghdad Operations Command.

Authorities seized “various types of narcotics” found in the suspects’ possession, the statement said.