Shafaq Information/ On Sunday, the Iraqi Ministry of Inside introduced the group of a global convention on drug management within the capital, Baghdad, on July 22.
Throughout a press convention, Ministry spokesperson Brigadier Basic Muqdad Miri acknowledged, “Our efforts in combating medicine proceed on a number of fronts. Firstly, via consciousness and training campaigns, and secondly, via worldwide cooperation.”
“We cooperate with all neighboring and different international locations as a result of drug trafficking is a transnational crime. Due to this fact, we’ve got expanded our operations on this regard and have many agreements.” The Brigadier Basic added.
He added, “On July 22, an vital convention on drug crimes can be held in Baghdad, involving inside ministers from neighboring and non-neighboring international locations who will attend to take part on this convention.”
In recent times, Iraq has develop into a serious transit route for unlawful medicine, in keeping with the United Nations Workplace on Medicine and Crime (UNODC). The nation’s in depth 3,637 kilometers of land borders with Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkiye place it strategically as a conduit for drug trafficking between Southwest Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, and Europe.
In a 2024 report titled “Drug Trafficking Dynamics Throughout Iraq and the Center East: Tendencies and Responses,” UNODC highlighted Iraq’s growing vulnerability as a vital node within the drug trafficking community spanning the Close to and Center East.
To fight this rising problem, Iraq took steps akin to establishing its first drug legislation and fee in 2017 and launching a Nationwide Technique on Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances (2023–2025) in 2023. Moreover, Iraq hosted its inaugural regional occasion on the problem in 2023 to reinforce collaboration and synchronize efforts in drug detection and disruption.
In December 2023, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani sparked controversy by advocating for the president to ratify all demise sentences for convicted drug traffickers. He argued that such measures are essential “to uphold the rule of legislation and deter anybody threatening the nation’s safety and its folks.”
