Baghdad – IA
The Ministry of Interior announced on Sunday the overthrow of 144 international drug traffickers during the year 2023, while confirming a decrease in the level of crime in the country.
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Ministry spokesman Brigadier General Miqdad al-Moussawi told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): “The drug file is one of the biggest challenges that exist, and the Minister of Interior, Abdul Amir al-Shammari, gave top priority to following up on this file and linking the Directorate of Drug Affairs to his office personally and strengthening it with weapons, technologies, vehicles, and material support.”
He added, “The measures taken in the file achieved very high results, as we were able over the past year to strike the drug trade through international trade in the first place, then local dealers, and then separating the drug users from those trying to get treatment.”
He pointed out that “the Ministry was able, as part of its efforts to combat drugs during the year 2023, to arrest 144 international traffickers and 19,135 defendants. Judgments were issued against more than 10,000 of them, and the seizure of 4 tons of narcotic substances, 15 tons of psychotropic substances, 1,700 weapons, and 1,200 wheel”.
He pointed out that “the sentences against those involved depend on the type of crime and range from imprisonment for several years, life imprisonment, or death penalty,” noting that “security campaigns have led to a decline in the drug trade, as well as a decrease in the level of crime, and it will not stop. Last year was harsh on drug traffickers, and this year will be even harsher.” .
Regarding international cooperation in combating the drug scourge, Al-Moussawi stressed that “the drug danger crosses borders and is an international crime and exists in all countries of the world. Therefore, unless there is international cooperation, there will be no results,” pointing out that “the international meeting held in Baghdad last year and in the presence of The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, in which several countries participated, and was followed by another meeting with geographically neighboring countries and other countries in the field of drug control.”
He noted that there is high coordination with the Kurdistan region in the drug file, as 400 kilograms of crystal were seized in Sulaymaniyah Governorate, in addition to the arrest of 5 international dealers, three of whom were foreigners and two Iraqis.
