On October 15, 2023, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Office of the Coordinator for International Advocacy hosted the first anti-narcotics conference in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). The conference aimed to discuss efforts to increase international cooperation to combat narcotics as well as tighten domestic measures limiting illicit trade and consumption.
KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani delivered a speech in which he emphasized the importance of tackling drug crimes collectively, describing the spread of narcotics and psychoactive drugs as one of the most “perilous phenomena of our time.”
The KRG is working diligently to combat this threat, making earnest efforts to eradicate it and prevent its spread. For this purpose, Legislation No. 1 of 2020, “Combating Drugs and Psychoactive Substances in the Kurdistan Region,” was enacted. According to Prime Minister Barzani, “this legislation obliges all relevant institutions in the region to coordinate and collaborate on its implementation.”
Prime Minister Barzani compared the threat of psychoactive drugs to the threat of terrorism facing the KRI.
“The KRI faces hostility in multiple ways, and one of the most dangerous methods is through the spread of psychoactive drugs. These substances are used covertly and overtly against the region to distort our society and harm the health and potential of our youth. It is imperative to confront this threat vigorously because the dangers posed by psychoactive drugs are no less than those posed by terrorism,” Prime Minister Barzani said.
Anti-narcotics conference organized by the KRG’s Office of the Coordinator for International Advocacy (Erbil, Oct. 15, 2023).
“Mafias and criminal traders have made the KRI a target for their nefarious plans, attempting to exploit our region’s geography as a gateway to smuggle drugs to other areas. They employ various methods to achieve this, leading to a rise in drug addiction in our region. It is therefore imperative for relevant KRG institutions to forcefully tackle these criminal traders and thwart their treacherous intentions,” Prime Minister Barzani added.
Prime Minister Barzani also mentioned the security vacuum in the disputed territories of Article 140, also known as “Kurdistani Areas Outside the Region.” Furthermore, the presence of militant groups on the border between the KRI and neighboring countries contributes to instability and hinders the ability of KRG security forces to combat drug traffickers.
“Unfortunately, some of these militant groups are involved in drug trafficking themselves,” Barzani said.
Prime Minister Barzani called for local and international collaboration to address the root causes of what he described as “an epidemic.”
“To rehabilitate drug addicts and reintegrate them into society, the KRG is working to build an addiction rehabilitation center. We urge the private sector to assist the government in combating drug traffickers and in treating and rehabiliting,” he said.
Anti-narcotics conference organized by the KRG’s Office of the Coordinator for International Advocacy (Erbil, Oct. 15, 2023).
Alarming figures and regional cooperation
Drug trafficking and use in the KRI and Iraq have seen a concerning increase since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Recent statistics paint a grim picture, posing a significant threat to society.
Kwestan Mohammed, the KRG Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, unveiled alarming figures for 2023: 1,097 individuals in the KRI were convicted of drug use and trafficking charges, with 74 women and 1,023 men among them. Of these, 480 are traffickers, and 617 are drug addicts.
In late August, a significant drug bust in Erbil resulted in the seizure of over 100 kilograms of narcotics, including Captagon pills, crystal methamphetamine, and heroin. Captagon pills, an amphetamine-like stimulant also known as fenethylline, are among the most widely trafficked drugs in Iraq, with many believed to originate in war-torn Syria.
Iraq’s Minister of Interior Lieutenant General Abdul-Amir al-Shammari emphasized the importance of a united effort to combat drug trafficking in the country. He highlighted close cooperation between his ministry and other government ministries and their counterparts in the KRG. This includes initiatives such as training camps to bolster the ability of security forces to combat drug trafficking and educational workshops aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of drug use and psychotropic substances.
During an interview with Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath networks following the conference, al-Shammari revealed that drugs come from Iran and Syria through linked networks. He stressed the need for coordination with neighboring countries to combat this issue, mentioning upcoming operations that would have a significant impact on drug traffickers.
Anti-narcotics conference organized by the KRG’s Office of the Coordinator for International Advocacy (Erbil, Oct. 15, 2023).
“A few days ago, we detained an international smuggler and, through his guidance, we were able to reach the drug manufacturing factory in southern Iraq,” al-Shammari said.
He also discussed border security, mentioning a significant allocation of funds to build police stations on the border with Iran, particularly in Sulaymaniyah. He highlighted that improved border control measures, including the installation of towers along the borders with Iran, Syria, and other regions, have been effective.
“The Iraqi-Syrian border is 620 kilometers long and is better secured because of the fences that have been installed. We are continuing to build concrete walls, with 70 km currently constructed,” said al-Shammari.
Nasrollah Rashnoudi, Iran’s Consul General in Erbil, stated at the conference that Iran has always demonstrated its willingness to coordinate and assist regional countries in their efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.
Rashnoudi also stated that smugglers frequently target children and that “we must fight them in every way possible.”
Meanwhile, Mark Stroh, U.S. Consul General in Erbil, stated that the U.S. government has published a strategy for combating Captagon trafficking, which includes supporting law enforcement operations, implementing economic sanctions, assisting regional partners, and leveraging diplomatic engagement in the fight against drug trafficking and consumption.
According to Stroh, the United States is concerned about the effects of Captagon and other drugs on the health, economy, and social welfare of the Middle East, particularly in Iraq and the KRI.
Qassim Khidhir has 15 years of experience in journalism and media development in Iraq. He has contributed to both local and international media outlets.
