Erbil security arrest Iranian national in possession of 26 kilograms of banned substances

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Anti-Narcotics Directorate in Kurdistan Region on Wednesday announced the arrest of an Iranian national in possession of 26 kilograms of banned narcotic substances in Erbil.

The directorate explained in a statement the detained person was driving a vehicle in which he had allegedly hidden 26 kilograms of narcotic substances, including “16 kg of crystal, and 10 kg of opium.”

It should be noted that there is often confusion about the term “crystal” since it is commonly used as the local name for two different highly-addictive drugs. One is methamphetamine, known in much of the world as crystal meth, but it can also refer to high-purity street-level heroin, sometimes called kerack.

The arrest came following “reliable intelligence” on the targeted individual, the statement noted, adding that the authorities had launched an investigation into the suspect, pending submission to the regional judiciary.

In September, a member of Iraq’s Human Rights Commission in Baghdad announced national drug abuse and trafficking information for 2020, excluding the Kurdistan Region. The report indicated a notable increase in the number of drug-related offenses in 2020, compared to 2019.

Read More: Iraqi commission announces national drug abuse, arrest figures

Kurdish and Iraqi authorities often intercept shipments of drugs passing through Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, mainly in the provinces of Basra, Diyala, Erbil, and Sulaimani.

Most of it is smuggled into the country through its porous border with Iran, on its way to Turkey, Syria, and ultimately Europe and North America.

Editing by Khrush Najari