Iraq and Kurdistan Region Strengthen Anti-Drugs Cooperation as 8,000 Users Complete Treatment

PUKMEDIA

A joint press conference between Kurdistan Asayish and Iraqi Interior Ministry.

Iraqi and Kurdistan Region security authorities have highlighted their joint efforts to combat drug trafficking, announcing major seizures, the dismantling of an international smuggling network and the successful treatment of more than 8,000 drug users.

The figures were released during a joint press conference held on Sunday by the Kurdistan Region Security (Asayish) Agency and the Iraqi Ministry of Interior.

Brigadier General Abbas Al-Bahadli, Director of Media for Iraq's Directorate of Narcotics Enforcement, said the fight against narcotics was being conducted through close cooperation between federal and regional security forces.

"To tackle the threat posed by narcotics, we are working as one team without distinction between provinces or security agencies," he said. "We have maintained close coordination with the Kurdistan Region Asayish Agency and the General Directorate of Sulaymaniyah Asayish."

Al-Bahadli said security forces had recently dismantled an international drug trafficking network that had been using Iraqi territory to smuggle narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances into a neighbouring country.

He said the operation, which followed intensive intelligence-led efforts, resulted in the seizure of 38 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine concealed inside vehicle tyres.

Providing an overview of the country's anti-narcotics campaign, Al-Bahadli said Iraqi authorities had confiscated 16.8 tonnes of narcotics since 2023.

He added that courts had issued 380 death sentences and 150 life imprisonment terms against convicted drug traffickers, while 190 international arrest warrants had also been issued as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle cross-border trafficking networks.

Al-Bahadli also revealed that more than 8,000 drug users have successfully completed treatment programmes, describing rehabilitation as a key pillar of Iraq's strategy to address drug abuse alongside law enforcement measures.


PUKMEDIA