BAGHDAD, Aug 20 (NNN-NINA) – The Iraqi security forces have busted four drug trafficking groups, in the country’s central and southern regions, arresting a number of drug dealers and seizing six kg of drugs, the Iraqi Interior Ministry said in a statement, yesterday.
According to the statement, the Iraqi anti-narcotics forces arrested four drug dealers in the capital, Baghdad, and seized 1.5 kg of narcotic crystal, as well as, weapons and explosives.
It added that, the forces also seized 4.5 kg of narcotic crystal in the southern provinces of Najaf, Maysan and Muthanna, and detained several drug dealers there, without revealing the exact number of arrestees.
Chaos and conflicts that swept the country since the U.S. invasion in 2003 have hindered successive Iraqi governments over the past decades from properly addressing the threat of drugs to Iraqi society.
However, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani underlined in May, the importance of waging “a war on drugs,” calling it as important as combating terrorism.
Drug dealing is one of the main ways to fund terrorism, and the circulation of drugs thrives in the shadow of terrorism, al-Sudani said.– NNN-NINA
