Two security personnel killed in clashes with suspected drug trafficker in Duhok

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Two members of security forces (Asayish) were killed while trying to capture a suspected drug trafficker in Duhok province's Sheikhan district. The suspect was also killed in the overnight fighting, local mayor told Rudaw. 

 

The shooting occurred at around 11pm after Asayish raided a wedding party to arrest the suspected armed drug trafficker, but he refused to surrender.

 

"Two security personnel were killed in the shooting incident," Sardar Sheikh Yahya, Shekhan's mayor, told Rudaw, adding the suspect was also killed.

 

Two other security personnel and a bypasser were also injured, with one of them sustaining critical injuries, according to the mayor.

 

"We urge the government that justice must be served," said Ni'mat Tahir, a relative of one of the slain security personnel.

 

The three injured received treatments at a hospital in Duhok.

 

"It is impossible not to arrest a criminal who freely moves. Even if 100 people get martyred, we must impose law," Zeravan Baroshki, head of Duhok Asayish, told Rudaw. "We are imposing the [Kurdistan] Regional Government's laws. We are not turning a blind eye even to our brother."

 

The suspected drug trafficker from town of Qasrok in the province had an arrest warrant since 2020, but had not surrendered, Rudaw has learnt.

 

Drug trafficking and use have been on the rise in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq in the last two decades.