Four drug dealers arrested in Zakho

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – According to the Directorate of Anti-narcotics in Duhok, four drug dealers were arrested in the province’s town of Zakho on Sunday evening.

The drug dealers were armed and confronted the security forces when they attempted to arrest them, but their forces were not harmed, a security source told Kurdistan24.

Kurdistan24 has previously reported that 80% of drug users in the Kurdistan Region are between 18 and 35 years old, of which, 90% constitute men.

Captagon, a methamphetamine-like stimulant, has become increasingly popular in Iraq in recent years, as neighboring Syria has increasingly resorted to the drug’s manufacture and its illicit profits to financially recover from the devastating economic impact of a civil war that is about to enter its 13th year.

Users feel mild euphoria after taking Captagon. It is known to lead to various health problems, including high blood pressure, hallucinations, and blurred vision. Irritability and fatigue are also the two most common withdrawal symptoms of the drug.

In April 2023, the KRG's Ministry of Finance and Economy established a Drug and Psychotropic Substances Fund to provide treatments for substance abusers and financial rewards to those who turn in illegal narcotics to local authorities.