Kurdistan’s Interior Minister Warns of Alarming Rise in Narcotics Use, Vows Stricter Action

By Ahora Qadi

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Kurdistan Region Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed on Thursday sounded the alarm on the growing threat of narcotics use in the Region, describing it as a “frightening” phenomenon that now rivals the threat of terrorism to societal stability.

Speaking during a national campaign event under the slogan “Together Toward a Strong and Healthy Society,” supervised by Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, and lunched by the Barzani Charity Foundation (BCF), Minister Ahmed warned that drug trafficking and addiction have escalated to a national security threat.

“Narcotics are one of the most dangerous challenges confronting modern societies,” Ahmed stated. “This is a historical issue faced across the world, but its threat to national security today is no less severe than terrorism. Our fight is not only against terrorists—it is also a war against the devastation caused by drugs.”

A Global Crisis Reaching Kurdistan

Citing alarming global figures, Ahmed noted that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported that nearly 275 million people worldwide used drugs in 2022. Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 500,000 people die annually from drug-related causes, with millions more suffering from physical and psychological complications.

“This crisis is growing at an alarming rate, especially among youth and marginalized groups,” Ahmed said. “It has become a source of vast financial gain for criminal networks, thereby compounding the problem exponentially.”

Kurdistan’s Geopolitical Vulnerability

Minister Ahmed acknowledged that the Kurdistan Region’s strategic location has made it especially vulnerable.

“Due to its geographical position, bordering countries known for producing and exporting narcotics, the Kurdistan Region has become a direct target and transit route for drug trafficking networks,” he said.

He also pointed to the broader national context, describing how the Kurdistan Region has not been immune to the regional instability that facilitates the expansion of narcotics operations.

“Given the prevailing political, economic, and security instability in Iraq and the region, we are deeply entangled in a crisis that requires a unified and strategic response.”

Strategic Plan and Government Coordination

Ahmed emphasized that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has adopted a strategic framework aimed at combating the proliferation of narcotics through enhanced coordination between ministries and the security services.

“Within the framework of a strategic plan and operational roadmap, the KRG is taking serious steps to intercept and dismantle narcotics supply chains. Specialized ministries and the Kurdistan Security Council have worked in close coordination to confront this threat—but more needs to be done,” he added.

The minister confirmed that joint operations and cooperation between the KRG and the Federal Government in Baghdad have been launched, in addition to active coordination with international partners.

“There is strong collaboration between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government, as well as with the international community, to fight this epidemic. The threat is transnational, and so must be the response.”

Rising Arrests Highlight Urgency

According to the Kurdistan Region’s security authorities, 388 suspects were arrested for narcotics-related charges in the first four months of 2025 alone. Of those, 173 were users, 143 local distributors, and 72 international traffickers. Last year, nearly 1,000 individuals were arrested in connection with narcotics offenses across these categories.

As the Kurdistan Region braces for continued efforts to address the threat, officials hope that public awareness campaigns like Thursday’s initiative will galvanize broader community support and alert citizens to the risks posed by drugs to both individuals and society at large.