ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s interior ministry announced that it had arrested four “internationally wanted” suspects and seized 200,000 Captagon pills during a joint security operation carried out in coordination with Syria.
In a Monday statement, the General Directorate for Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Affairs - an affiliate of the interior ministry - said the operation was conducted in cooperation with Iraq’s National Intelligence Service (INIS) and resulted in the arrest of “four internationally wanted individuals” and “the confiscation of 200,000 Captagon-type narcotic pills.”
The Directorate confirmed that the operation “was carried out in coordination with the Syrian Arab Republic.”
Speaking at a press conference, Directorate Spokesperson Ziad al-Qaisi said Monday that the operation was conducted under the direct instructions of Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari and reflected “continuous cooperation between Iraq and Syria.”
Qaisi explained that Iraqi authorities had provided Syrian counterparts with “accurate security and intelligence information” that contributed to the operation’s success. He added that the seized narcotics were confiscated and the suspects were referred to the Iraqi judiciary.
“These operations reflect the level of cooperation between the two countries,” he stressed.
Captagon, a powerful amphetamine, has long posed a major security and public health concern across the Middle East.
Under the rule of toppled Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, Syria was widely recognized as a major hub for Captagon production and distribution. The trade became a political and economic tool for the Assad regime, with many analysts pointing to Maher al-Assad, the ousted president’s brother, as a key figure behind the industry.
In late October, Syrian state media reported that the country’s anti-narcotics forces had seized some 11 million Captagon pills trafficked from neighboring Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Iraqi authorities have in recent years intensified their campaign against drug trafficking, as the country - once primarily a transit route - has increasingly become a destination for narcotics consumption.
In late November, Baghdad’s interior ministry said authorities dismantled more than 1,200 drug trafficking and promotion networks over the past three years, including 171 international groups. It further reported seizing more than 14 tons of narcotics and issuing over 2,300 drug-related court sentences, including 300 death penalties.
Around mid-August, the interior ministry said Iraq had emerged as a “regional leader” in counter-narcotics efforts, citing its role in providing intelligence on international drug trafficking networks.