Iraq dismantles over 1,500 drug trafficking networks since 2023: Ministry

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s interior ministry announced on Thursday that authorities have dismantled more than 1,500 drug trafficking networks since 2023, including several operating across international borders.

Ministry spokesperson Abbas al-Bahadli said the three-year campaign resulted in 349 death sentences and 1,325 life sentences for convicted traffickers.

According to the ministry, 1,538 networks were dismantled during this period, including 234 transnational groups. Security forces also carried out 61 operations abroad as part of the crackdown.

Operations led by the anti-narcotics directorate expanded international coordination, establishing 36 liaison channels with foreign counterparts to strengthen intelligence sharing and field cooperation. Authorities also issued 151 international arrest warrants for suspects wanted by the judiciary.

Following the announcement, Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari emphasized the need to "maintain the current pace of work and intensify coordination with other security agencies to dry up the sources of smuggling.”

Baghdad has also increased cooperation with neighboring Syria. Joint operations recently led to the seizure of 500,000 Captagon pills - an illicit amphetamine - on Sunday, in addition to 400,000 pills confiscated in February.

Iraq remains both a destination and a transit route for narcotics. A report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime describes the country as a “conduit” for drug flows between Southwest Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, and Europe, while highlighting a surge in Captagon trafficking from Syria and rising domestic consumption.

Shammari praised the efforts of anti-narcotics personnel, saying recent successes reflect measurable progress in intelligence gathering and field operations. He reiterated that counter-narcotics efforts remain a top priority for the ministry in protecting Iraqi society.

The announcement was accompanied by a presentation highlighting ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking.