Iraqi Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari announced today, Saturday, the dismantling of local and international drug trafficking networks. In his speech during the annual conference for drug combat, al-Shammari stated, "The support from the Prime Minister has had a tangible impact on the fight against drugs," affirming that "the ministry is determined to eliminate and close all sources of drugs entering the country."
He added that "the great interest and ongoing support from the Prime Minister in anti-drug measures have had a noticeable effect on the ground, enhancing the performance of the General Directorate for Drug and Psychotropic Substance Affairs and the security forces specialized in combating this crime, achieving outstanding activities, seizing large quantities of narcotic and psychotropic substances, and arresting many dealers, traffickers, and promoters while dismantling networks inside and outside Iraq."
Al-Shammari noted that "the interest of the Chief Justice in this issue, along with ongoing directives to investigative judges to support the General Directorate for Drug Control, and the issuance of deterrent judgments against those involved in drug trafficking and promotion cases, has provided significant moral support for officers and personnel tracing drug promotion networks."
He confirmed that "the Ministry of Interior is determined to eliminate and close all smuggling routes for drugs into the country by securing international borders throughout this year and will continue until completely eradicating it in 2024 through support for border forces' procedures," calling on "the Border Ports Authority to enhance and activate its measures to prevent drug smuggling and increase coordination and cooperation with the Ministry of Interior to control land, air, and sea crossings, which will contribute to ending the entry of these poisons into the country."
He concluded, "Despite achieving these successes, the General Directorate for Drug and Psychotropic Substance Affairs in the Ministry of Interior still needs to strengthen its efforts and support from all ministries, agencies, and institutions, as the task of combating drugs is a shared responsibility that does not fall on a specific party, and it is no less dangerous than terrorism. Therefore, it is imperative for everyone to exert maximum efforts and utilize all resources to eradicate this phenomenon."
