Erbil security forces confiscate over 550 kg of narcotics in 2020, mostly heroin
Over 550 kg of narcotics confiscated in 2020, mostly heroin
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ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Security forces in the Kurdistan Region’s capital city Erbil announced that it had confiscated over 550 kilograms of narcotics, mostly heroin during 2020, in a statement outlining the department’s activities in seizures of illegal items.
At the end of the calendar year, the Erbil anti-narcotics department announced the figures for its activities during the year. The department’s statement on Monday includes the number of accused, illegal weapons, narcotics, medical drugs, and counterfeit currency.
The capital’s forces confiscated over 550 kg of narcotics in Erbil province during the year, including various types of illegal drugs such as heroin, opium, meth, and hashish. Heroin composes the biggest portion of the confiscated drugs.
“The Kurdistan Region does not have any production source of illegal drugs,” the department said in its statement, citing that those drugs are imported from neighboring countries and Iraq’s south and center.
The security forces also announced that they had arrested over 1,100 accused during the same period. Around 915 accused were tried and sentenced while the rest are still on trial or have been freed due to the lack of evidence, according to the statement.
Moreover, over 2,730 medical drugs were confiscated for the same period, mostly opioids that have a high chance of dependence.
Kurdish and Iraqi authorities often intercept shipments of such controlled substances passing through the country, mainly in the provinces of Basra, Diyala, Erbil, and Sulaimani, specifically in the towns and villages connecting the countries of Iran and Turkey.
The Erbil security forces also revealed a significant number of confiscated counterfeit money and unlicensed weapons.
The sale and consumption of any non-prescription drugs are strictly forbidden in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.
Local activists and authorities have also warned of the rise in drug abuse within Iraq itself.
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany
