ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region’s general directorate of anti-narcotics on Thursday announced arresting five suspected drug dealers and seizing over 2.5 kilograms of narcotics over the past two days.
The suspects were arrested across three different operations between Tuesday and Wednesday, according to a statement from the directorate, describing one of the suspects as “internationally wanted.”
Around 2.6 kilograms of crystal were also seized in the operations.
“Investigation files for the suspects have been opened and they will be treated in accordance with the Combating Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law,” the statement added.
Over 1,000 suspects have been arrested across the Region on drug-related charges this year, and hundreds of kilograms of narcotics have been seized, according to official data.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, during a conference on combating the drug trade last month, said that the Region is “seriously and widely working to eradicate and combat” the threat of drugs, and called on the Kurdish and international community to cooperate with Erbil to eliminate the source of what he described an “endemic” problem.
In Iraq, around 15,000 suspects were arrested and more than 400 kilograms of narcotics were confiscated in 2022.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani in July ordered the establishment of rehabilitation centers in all Iraqi provinces, excluding the Kurdistan Region, as part of his cabinet’s commitment to combat growing drug trade and use as seriously as the country fights terrorism.
