KRG deported 150 drug dealers in 2015

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has deported over 150 foreigners in 2015, suspected of consuming and dealing illicit drugs in the Kurdistan Region, according to Erbil Drug Prevention Directorate on Wednesday.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has deported over 150 foreigners in 2015 because of consuming and dealing illicit drugs in the Kurdistan Region, according to Erbil Drug Prevention Directorate on Wednesday.

Recently, Erbil security arrested a group of people in Erbil that were producing drugs in their homes.

According to the statistics of Erbil Drug Prevention Directorate, almost 500 people have been arrested in Erbil in 2015, including five women.

The statistics show that most of them were drug consumers. In total, over 150 foreigners were deported because of drug trafficking charges.

Additionally, the security confiscated almost 40 kilograms of opium, heroin, and cannabis with 15,000 tablets of pills in 2015 that were illegally brought to the Kurdistan Region.

“Drug abusers will be punished by minimum one year in prison,” Kurdish Lawyer Shakhawan Mohammad Omar, told Kurdistan24. “The punishment is much higher for the drug dealers.”

A sociologist believes that unemployment and poverty are the main reasons that promote drug addiction.

“When people are unemployed and lose their social and financial status, they are more likely to think about numbing their pains through drug abuse,” said Hemin Salih.

On May 9, the Erbil Drug Prevention Directorate revealed in a press conference that the security has arrested two groups of people consisting of 62 criminals who were involved in consuming and dealing illicit drugs in the city.

 

Editing by Ava Homa
(Hero Mawludi contributed to this report)