Iraqi authorities seized record amounts of Captagon last year, valued at up to $144 million, solidifying the country’s position as a major transit point for drugs. This was disclosed in a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report released on Monday.

The report highlights a significant surge in drug trafficking and consumption in Iraq over the past five years. In 2023 alone, authorities confiscated a historic 24 million Captagon tablets, equivalent to over 4.1 tons, with an estimated retail value ranging from $84 million to $144 million. The UNODC pointed out that Iraq has become a central hub for trafficking routes of methamphetamine and Captagon in the Near and Middle East.

Seizures of Captagon in Iraq reportedly tripled between 2022 and 2023, with the quantities in 2023 being 34 times higher than those in 2019. Captagon, an amphetamine originally used for narcolepsy and attention disorders, is now trafficked through various Middle Eastern countries, primarily originating from Syria. In Iraq, authorities frequently announce large seizures of Captagon, much of which crosses the porous border with Syria.

According to UNODC data, 82 percent of Captagon seized in the region from 2019 to 2023 originated in Syria, followed by Lebanon at 17 percent. Iraq is also experiencing a surge in domestic drug use exacerbated by ongoing crises. This prompted Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani to call for regional cooperation during an anti-drug conference.

Prime Minister al-Sudani emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts to combat drug trafficking, stating Iraq’s readiness to collaborate internationally to dismantle drug networks and disrupt their supply chains. He highlighted the critical need for regional and international cooperation to address the escalating drug crisis effectively.

The report underscores the urgent need for strengthened measures and collaborative efforts to combat the rising drug trafficking and consumption issues facing Iraq and the broader region.