Erbil, Kurdistan Region - In a successful operation, the Kurdistan Region's anti-narcotics agency announced on Saturday the arrest of three drug dealers and the confiscation of five kilograms of methamphetamine. The arrest, carried out on Friday night, was based on prior intelligence gathered by the agency, thwarting the dealers' plans to distribute and sell the narcotics in the city of Erbil.

Over recent years, the Kurdistan Region forces have intensified their efforts to combat drug trafficking and usage, aiming to curb the spread of illicit substances. In late December, the Directorate reported a major success, confiscating over 10 million Captagon pills in the span of a year.

The issue of drug trafficking and abuse has seen a concerning rise in Iraq, with the Ministry of Interior revealing that seven thousand individuals were tried on drug-related charges in 2023 alone.

Captagon pills, a widely trafficked amphetamine-like stimulant, have become a significant concern in the region. Believed to be produced in war-torn Syria, these low-cost drugs find their way into various Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Captagon users experience a mild euphoria, but the drug's consumption leads to severe health problems such as high blood pressure, hallucinations, and blurred vision. Notably, irritability and fatigue are common withdrawal symptoms.

In a landmark discovery in July of the current year, Iraqi security forces uncovered a Captagon lab in Muthana province, marking the first of its kind in the region.

Addressing the escalating issue, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) convened a Conference on Combating Drugs and Psychotropic Substances in mid-October. The event, attended by faith community leaders, security officials, and regional and Western diplomats, aimed to strategize and collaborate on tackling the drug epidemic. The recent arrests and drug confiscation demonstrate the region's commitment to combating the proliferation of narcotics and protecting the well-being of its citizens.