Baghdad Court seizes over one ton of narcotics in major drug bust
Judge Walid Ibrahim, who oversees drug-related investigations at the Rusafa Central Investigation Court, revealed that "75 death sentences were issued, including six foreign nationals, and the Criminal Court handed down 20 life sentences."
Nov. 28, 2024
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) - The Central Investigation Court at the Baghdad Rusafa Court of Appeal announced on Thursday, the seizure of more than one ton of narcotics during operations conducted in cooperation with relevant Interior Ministry departments since the beginning of this year until mid-October.
Judge Walid Ibrahim, who oversees drug-related investigations at the Rusafa Central Investigation Court, told the Judiciary newspaper in a statement followed by Kurdistan24 that "hundreds of kilograms of narcotics were seized" during operations conducted from Jan. 2 to Oct. 17 of this year.
Ibrahim revealed that "75 death sentences were issued, including six foreign nationals, and 20 life sentences were handed down by the Criminal Court."
He detailed that "through outstanding efforts in cooperation with relevant Interior Ministry departments, authorities seized one ton of narcotics, specifically 229.120 kilograms of crystal meth, 843.264 kilograms of Captagon, more than 51 kilograms of hashish, and 100 grams of psychotropic substances."
The judge further reported that "six individuals were arrested and referred to the Central Criminal Court, where they received death sentences following a sting operation that lured a drug dealer attempting to transport 30 kilograms of crystal meth from Sulaimani to Basra province."
Describing another significant operation this year, Ibrahim mentioned the arrest of a 22-year-old dealer who was caught receiving approximately 57.230 kilograms of Captagon pills. "He was ambushed and arrested while receiving the shipment from foreign dealers, then referred to the Rusafa Central Criminal Court where he was sentenced to death."
Ibrahim added that "another specialized operation led to the seizure of 151.711 kilograms of narcotics after receiving intelligence about a drug factory in Sulaimani manufacturing Captagon pills and crystal meth near Lake Darbandikhan."
He noted that "this facility operated under the facade of a tire factory, where Captagon pills and crystal meth were being produced, along with a 4,000-liter tank of amphetamine, the primary ingredient in pill production.
Intelligence indicates that a 100-kilogram shipment of these pills had been smuggled to Gulf countries before authorities, after obtaining official approvals, raided the factory."
Iraq has been intensifying its efforts to combat drug trafficking in recent years, as the country has become both a transit route and a growing market for narcotics. The country maintains some of the world's strictest drug laws, including capital punishment for trafficking.
The location of drug manufacturing facilities in Sulaimani province, particularly near borders, has become a growing concern for both federal and regional authorities.
Captagon, a type of amphetamine, has become particularly prevalent in the Middle East, with Iraq serving as both a transit point and, increasingly, a production hub.