The Drug Enforcement Directorate in the Iraqi Ministry of Interior reported today, Wednesday, the number of convictions for drug use and trafficking during this year, while revealing agreements in the process of being signed with Jordan, Syria, and Turkey to combat drugs. Colonel Mohannad Hatim, head of the legal section in the Drug Enforcement Directorate, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that "after the international conference on drug enforcement, which was held in Baghdad, there was significant communication with neighboring countries and the exchange of contact points. We have agreements to sign memorandums of understanding, along with existing active agreements with Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Kuwait, as well as those pending with Jordan, Syria, and Turkey."
Hatim added that "there are arrests and handovers between Iraq and other countries, and from time to time, announcements are made about seizing drugs either at Erbil or Baghdad airports or other outlets as a result of the exchange of information with the Lebanese, Syrian, Jordanian sides, and others." He confirmed that "the Ministry of Interior has a drug combating strategy that includes several axes, including international cooperation and internal measures to reduce the supply and demand for drugs and eradicate drug abuse."
He continued, "Currently, around 7,000 detainees are under investigation, with charges ranging from trafficking to use," confirming that "4,000 individuals have been sentenced on various charges this year, including 1,500 convicted in trafficking cases under articles 27 and 28." He noted that "there are many cases under Article 40 of Law No. 50 of 2017 related to drug enforcement, which states that those who voluntarily seek treatment in designated facilities for drug addiction will not face criminal prosecution." He emphasized that "there is fruitful cooperation between the Ministry of Health and other partners from various ministries in attracting drug addicts and placing them in the mental and health facilities under the Ministry of Health."
He explained that "those sentenced under the provisions of Article 39 are placed in facilities newly established by the Ministry of Interior in five provinces," confirming that "work is ongoing to complete the remaining facilities, in addition to having facilities to receive drug addicts who are exempted from criminal prosecution according to Article 40." He pointed out that "the Judicial Council supports investigative units and our directorates by issuing rulings, including the death penalty for one trafficker in Babylon, for not being eligible for parole." He noted that "last year, around 12 million drug pills were seized."
