Drugs are no less dangerous for Iraq than terrorism. This was stated by the vice president of the Iraqi parliament Hakim al Zamili after a long discussion with the head of the anti-terrorism agency, Abdul Wahab al Saadi. Illegal drugs are widespread in Iraq’s southern cities, particularly those bordering Iran, and have for years become a major source of funding for pro-Iranian militias.
Last month, a drug dealer blew himself up in a suicide attack after turning himself over to security forces in eastern Baghdad. A few days later the interior ministry announced the seizure of over 8 million pills in the capital and the concomitant arrest of many people involved in drug trafficking across the country. At the end of January, police in Anbar, northwest of Baghdad, intercepted a shipment of captagon arriving from the Syrian border: it is the psychostimulant drug used to synthesize amphetamine. Also in March, the interior ministry announced a new maxi-seizure for millions of ecstasy tablets. Within two months, 2,500 people involved in drug trafficking were arrested across the country.
Continuity with politics
A source from the National Intelligence Service, who asked to remain anonymous, told the press: “The drug trade is also managed by parties, in particular it finances those who have an armed militia.” And she added: “Many of our efforts are in vain. After the arrest of the gangs that do dirty work and deal with drug trafficking, their political protectors often intervene to get them back to freedom ”. For this reason, the Iraqi parliament is discussing the hypothesis of setting up a special force led by the anti-terrorism agency to block drug trafficking across borders.
(Translation by Francesco De Lellis)