Anbar Authorities Dismantle Drug Network, Seize 408,000 Captagon Pills
Intelligence-led operation results in 19 arrests as Iraq intensifies its nationwide campaign against narcotics trafficking.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Iraqi security forces have dismantled a drug trafficking network in Anbar province, arresting 19 suspects and confiscating more than 408,000 Captagon pills weighing approximately 68 kilograms, in one of the province's largest recent anti-narcotics operations.
The Anbar Narcotics Affairs Directorate announced the operation on Thursday, describing it as a significant setback for organized drug trafficking in the province.
Among those detained were two women, while authorities said the seizure followed an intelligence-led investigation and field surveillance targeting the network's activities.
Major Bust in Anbar
According to the Directorate, security personnel uncovered the trafficking operation after gathering intelligence on the group's movements before carrying out the raid that led to the arrests and the seizure of the Captagon tablets.
Officials characterized the operation as a "lethal blow" to narcotics syndicates operating in the province, saying it reflects the growing effectiveness of intelligence-driven security operations against organized crime.
The Directorate added that efforts to combat drug trafficking will continue, stressing that security agencies remain committed to pursuing traffickers and dismantling their networks across Anbar.
Network Dismantled
Authorities said the suspects were part of an organized criminal group allegedly involved in the distribution of Captagon, a synthetic stimulant that has become a major concern for security agencies across the region.
The Directorate said extensive intelligence work and sustained field monitoring enabled investigators to identify the group's activities and locate those involved before launching the coordinated operation.
Officials did not provide further details on the investigation but said security forces would continue targeting criminal networks engaged in narcotics trafficking.
Broader Anti-Drug Campaign
The latest seizure comes weeks after another operation in Anbar's Sijar area, where security forces confiscated 175,000 Captagon pills, underscoring the province's role in Iraq's wider campaign against drug trafficking.
The operation also aligns with broader national enforcement efforts. According to figures released by the Iraqi Ministry of Interior, security forces seized 1.977 tons of narcotics across Iraq during the first half of 2026.
The ministry also reported that Iraqi courts handed down sentences to 3,553 people convicted of drug trafficking and distribution offenses during the same period, including 58 death sentences and 236 life sentences.
Authorities said security agencies dismantled 378 trafficking and smuggling networks nationwide, comprising 319 domestic groups and 59 with international links.
Thursday's operation in Anbar adds to that broader campaign, as Iraqi authorities continue to intensify efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks and curb the spread of illicit narcotics across the country.