The Iraqi Interior Ministry has disclosed a significant spike in drug-related arrests, with authorities apprehending 6,000 individuals involved in drug trafficking and use over the past five months alone.

Brigadier General Miqdad Moussawi, spokesperson for the Interior Ministry, expressed deep concern over the escalating drug crisis plaguing the nation, underscoring the dismantling of 163 drug trafficking networks, including 24 international operations.

"This year has witnessed a sharp increase in drug-related arrests, with 6,000 individuals taken into custody compared to previous years," Moussawi emphasized during a statement to the Iraqi News Agency. He particularly highlighted the prevalence of crystal methamphetamine, describing it as the most pernicious substance currently circulating within Iraq.

Iraqi authorities have been grappling with widespread drug trafficking, particularly along the country's porous 600-kilometer border with Syria, which serves as a major transit route for amphetamine-type substances. In the first half of this year alone, officials seized a staggering 10 tons of illicit drugs across various operations.

In a notable operation conducted late last month, the General Directorate of Counter-Narcotics reported a significant seizure in Najaf and Anbar provinces. "An intelligence-driven operation led to the confiscation of 2.5 million Captagon pills," disclosed Hussein Tamimi, spokesperson for the Counter-Narcotics Directorate at the Interior Ministry.

The seizure underscores ongoing efforts by Iraqi authorities to combat the influx of illicit substances, particularly Captagon, a stimulant widely trafficked across the region. The ministry's proactive measures highlight a concerted push to curb drug trafficking and usage, addressing a critical challenge facing Iraqi society.