Details of industrial-scale drug operation seized in Sulaimani

The United Nations has identified Sulaimani as a central hub for the production and transportation of drugs, impacting the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and European countries.

The photo shows a view of a cache of confiscated captagon pills. (Photo: AFP)
The photo shows a view of a cache of confiscated captagon pills. (Photo: AFP)

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – On Sunday, Miqdad Miri, spokesperson for the Iraqi Interior Ministry, announced the seizure of a drug factory in Sulaimani and the arrest of several suspects. 

The United Nations has identified Sulaimani as a central hub for the production and transportation of drugs, impacting the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and European countries.

Seizure of Drug Factory in Darbandikhan

Speaking to Kurdistan24, Miri explained, “We received information about the existence of a drug factory in Darbandikhan, prompting the formation of a joint working team to investigate the issue.” He added, “The Directorate General of Combating Narcotics assisted the security forces in the area. During the operation, the factory was seized, and several suspects were arrested.”

Miri emphasized that the Iraqi Interior Ministry is committed to “seizing drug factories wherever they exist in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and apprehending those involved.”

CTD Accuses Sulaimani Authorities of Concealment

On Thursday, October 10, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)’s Directorate General of the Counter-Terrorism Forces (CTD) disclosed that federal authorities had previously seized a drug factory in the village of Aubar, near Darbandikhan. The operation uncovered about two tons of Captagon drugs along with factory machinery.

The CTD alleged, “This factory was established with the knowledge and supervision of new leaders within the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). Sulaimani authorities sought to persuade the federal government to overlook their involvement and kept the matter from the media spotlight.”

Accusations Against PUK Leadership

Lahur Sheikh Jangi, a former PUK official, accused the party's leadership of direct involvement in drug production. “They brought in a man from Syria with assistance from a contact in Baghdad, set up a drug factory in Sulaimani, and later sold the factory to a Peshmerga while denying their involvement,” Jangi stated.

Masrour Barzani Urges Crackdown on Drug Production

Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Vice President Masrour Barzani called for the elimination of drug factories in a recent campaign speech, saying, “To prevent drug proliferation and protect Kurdistan, these factories must be destroyed.”

Local authorities in Sulaimani have come under criticism for risking the city's future by allowing the establishment of a drug factory despite a security gap. While the KRG has reported numerous drug seizures, it accuses Sulaimani’s local authorities of hindering the government's efforts.

UN Report: Sulaimani at the Center of Iraq’s Drug Trade

A report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has highlighted the rapid expansion of the drug trade in Iraq, noting that Captagon has become the dominant illicit substance, displacing other drugs like amphetamines. The report identified Sulaimani province as a key corridor for the trafficking of heroin, opium, and methamphetamine.

The UN expressed concern over Iraq's growing role as a major drug transit point in the Middle East, facilitating the movement of narcotics from Afghanistan and Iran into Europe. The discovery of two additional drug factories in Sulaimani in May 2024 has heightened international concern.

Interior Minister Addresses Security Gaps in Sulaimani

Iraqi Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari acknowledged ongoing challenges in curbing drug trafficking, particularly in Sulaimani. “We have signed a security agreement with Iran, coordinated with the Kurdistan Regional Government, yet certain security gaps remain, especially in Sulaimani province,” he noted.

Regarding the border with Turkey, al-Shammari added, “A committee has been established in coordination with Turkey, and funding has been allocated for joint patrols. We plan to set up 30 patrol posts to prevent any illegal crossings.”

Statistics Reveal Scale of Drug Arrests in Iraq

Fazel Gharawi, head of the Strategic Center for Human Rights in Iraq, shared statistics from the Iraqi Ministry of Interior’s General Directorate of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Affairs. He reported that 230 criminal networks, including 27 international ones, have been dismantled over the past three years, with 43,000 arrests, including 150 foreign businessmen.

Gharawi highlighted that more than 28 tons of drugs and millions of pills have been seized during this period. The highest usage rates are observed in poorer neighborhoods, with most users aged between 15 and 30. Crystal meth (37.3%) and Captagon tablets (34.35%) are the most common substances.

Despite ongoing efforts by security forces, Gharawi emphasized that the measures “are not yet sufficient,” outlining the destruction of large quantities of drugs and narcotic pills over the past three years, with notable increases in 2024.

He provided data on the destruction of illegal substances over the past three years:

In 2022, the destruction included:

5,000 tons of drugs

54 million narcotic pills

31,000 drug injections

9,000 bottles of various substances

In 2023, the numbers changed, with the following destroyed:

2,118 kilograms of drugs

4,934,132 anesthetic pills

During the first nine months of 2024, the destruction figures were:

42,320 kilograms of drugs and psychotropic substances

772 sheets of anesthetic pills