Iraqi Security Forces Seize Captagon Laboratory in Muthanna Province in Efforts to Combat Narcotics Spread
In a groundbreaking operation on Sunday, Iraqi security forces successfully seized a captagon laboratory in Muthanna province, marking the country's first major blow against drug production.
The joint operation, conducted by the Rapid Response Force and the General Directorate of Narcotics Control, resulted in the confiscation of at least 27.5 kilograms of captagon pills.
Iraq's Interior Ministry spokesperson, Saad Maan, expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the anti-narcotics directorate, stating, "Today, and maybe for the first time, a laboratory where captagon is produced was seized." The illicit drug captagon, an amphetamine-type stimulant, has been spreading rapidly across the Middle East, with Syria acting as the main supplier and Saudi Arabia as the primary consumer.
This significant seizure comes in the wake of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani's recent order to establish rehabilitation centers in all Iraqi provinces, excluding the Kurdistan Region. The prime minister's directive reflects the government's commitment to combating the growing drug trade and usage, treating it with the same level of seriousness as the fight against terrorism.
"God willing, Iraq's war on drugs will be a victorious war. The same way we achieved victory against terrorism, we will undoubtedly achieve victory against drugs and drug lords," proclaimed Saad Maan, highlighting Iraq's determination to tackle the drug problem head-on.
According to the General Directorate of Narcotics Control in Iraq's Ministry of Interior, approximately 15,000 individuals were arrested on drug-related charges in 2022 alone. Additionally, over 400 kilograms of narcotics were confiscated during the same period. In late June, security forces also discovered and seized around 250,000 captagon pills from a school under renovation in Anbar province.
The latest operation serves as a crucial milestone in Iraq's fight against narcotics, demonstrating the government's commitment to eradicating drug production and trafficking within its borders. With further efforts and the establishment of rehabilitation centers nationwide, Iraq aims to achieve a resounding victory against drugs and the criminal networks involved.
