In a recent development in the ongoing battle against drug trafficking in the Kurdistan Region, a clash between anti-narcotics forces and suspected drug dealers in Erbil's Ankawa area has left one officer severely injured.

According to a statement released by the Kurdistan Region's general directorate of anti-narcotics, the incident occurred around 6:15 pm on Tuesday when their forces conducted a court-ordered operation aimed at investigating two suspected drug dealers. The confrontation escalated when the suspects reportedly aimed their weapons at the security forces, resulting in one officer sustaining serious injuries.

In response to the gunfire, the anti-narcotics forces retaliated, resulting in the death of one of the suspected drug dealers, while the other was injured and subsequently arrested.

This incident underscores the escalating issue of drug trafficking and use in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Just a day before this clash, Sulaimani Security forces (Asayish) announced the arrest of five individuals on drug dealing charges, following the confiscation of 15 kilograms of narcotic hashish.

Addressing the severity of the situation, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Labour and Social Affairs Minister Kwestan Mohammed warned against the spread of drugs in the Region, emphasizing its greater danger compared to terrorism. She highlighted a distressing case of a nine-year-old child being addicted to drugs, indicating the alarming reach of this menace.

In response to the escalating crisis, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani reiterated the government's commitment to combating the drug trade. During a conference on combating the drug trade in October, he emphasized the Region's serious and wide-ranging efforts to eradicate and combat the threat of drugs, calling for cooperation from both Kurdish and international communities to eliminate the source of this endemic problem.

As the Kurdistan Region grapples with the persistent challenge of drug trafficking, the recent clash serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle to protect communities from the devastating impacts of narcotics.