Kurdistan Security Council seizes over half a ton of drugs, arrests more than 50 traffickers
Shafaq News/ On Monday, the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC)'s Anti-NarcoticsDirectorate announced the seizure of more than half a ton of narcotics overmore than two months.
The seizurestook place from May 14, 2024, to August 1, 2024, in coordination with all Regionalsecurity directorates, based on accurate information and intensive monitoring measuresto prevent drug trafficking and distribution.
“Theseefforts resulted in the seizure of 514 kilograms of various drugs, includingcocaine, crystal meth, marijuana, opium, and others," the directorate noted."Security forces managed to arrest 51 individuals accused of drugtrafficking."
Smugglersattempted to use modern techniques to transport drugs across borders intocities and then distribute them to central and southern Iraq and neighboringcountries. “However, the KRSC affirmed its continued efforts to thwart suchattempts and counter emerging smuggling techniques as part of its ongoing workto protect the community and ensure a healthy environment,” the directorateadded.
“Thesuspects face charges under Articles 25 and 26 of the Anti-Narcotics andPsychotropic Substances Law, with investigations ongoing in their cases."
Notably, theKurdish Government (KRG) has significantly ramped up its actions to combat drugtrafficking and addiction, calling for cooperation from both Kurdish andinternational communities to address what it described as an 'endemic' threat.
During aconference on combating drugs and psychotropic substances in Erbil last March,Prime Minister Masrour Barzani emphasized the Government's initiatives to curbthe spread of drugs and urged for collective action to address the underlyingcauses of drug-related issues.
Barzanipointed to armed groups operating in disputed areas between Iraq and the KRI,as well as along the Region's borders with neighboring countries, as hindrancesto Kurdish security forces' activities in combating drug trafficking. Thesegroups, he noted, exploit security vulnerabilities and impede anti-drugoperations.
