Iraqi authorities confiscated over 1.1 tonnes of Captagon pills, marking one of the largest drug seizures in Iraq. This operation involved collaboration with Kurdish forces and intelligence from Saudi Arabia. Captagon, a significant illicit export of Syria since the civil war, has seen an alarming increase in trafficking and use across the Middle East.
Iraqi security forces seized over one tonne of Captagon tablets, specifically 1.1 tonnes, smuggled from Syria through Turkey. This operation, announced by the interior ministry, resulted in the confiscation of approximately seven million pills and is among the largest drug seizures in Iraq in recent years. This also marks the first known seizure since the fall of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, who has been implicated in the mass production of this narcotic.
The drugs were transported in a truck moving from Syria to Iraq, where they were transferred to an Iraqi truck near the border, as per video evidence from the interior ministry. Iraqi General Moqdad Miri confirmed arrests were made during the operation, although details regarding the detainees were not disclosed. The seizure was a collaborative effort involving Kurdish security forces, aided by crucial intelligence from Saudi security agencies.
Captagon is a powerful and illegal amphetamine that has gained a notable reputation as Syria’s leading export since the outbreak of the civil war in 2011. In response to the upswing in trafficking, Iraq and neighboring countries, especially Jordan and Saudi Arabia, have enhanced cooperative measures to combat drug smuggling. In 2022 alone, Iraq reported seizing six million pills, and the United Nations has highlighted a significant rise in Captagon trafficking in recent years.
According to a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC) report, Iraq authorities confiscated a record 24 million Captagon tablets in 2023, translating to over 4.1 tonnes with an estimated retail worth of $84 million to $144 million. The report noted that since 2019, around 82 percent of Captagon discovered in the Middle East has originated from Syria, while Lebanon accounted for 17 percent of the seizures.
The seizure of more than a tonne of Captagon tablets by Iraqi security forces underscores the ongoing battle against drug trafficking in the region. With substantial cooperation among regional security agencies and increased vigilance, authorities are striving to tackle the surge in narcotic smuggling from Syria and neighboring nations. The alarming rise in Captagon seizures highlights a critical public health challenge and reinforces the need for continued collaboration to combat drug-related issues.
Original Source: anfenglishmobile.com
