Iraqi Forces Achieve Major Seizure of Captagon Smuggled from Syria

Iraqi security forces seized over a tonne of Captagon, including seven million pills, smuggled from Syria through Turkey, marking one of the largest drug confiscations in the country. This operation highlights an ongoing issue of trafficking originating from Syria, with heightened regional cooperation to combat these activities amid rising drug use and seizures.

Iraqi security forces have made a significant seizure of Captagon, confiscating over a tonne of the powerful stimulant, which was smuggled from Syria through Turkey. The interior ministry announced this operation on Sunday, revealing that the narcotics team intercepted a truck carrying 1.1 tonnes, approximately seven million pills, destined for Iraq.

General Moqdad Miri, the ministry spokesman, confirmed that this operation represents one of the largest drug seizures in Iraq in recent years. This marks the first seizure reported since the downfall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose regime has long been implicated in the large-scale manufacturing of Captagon.

The drugs were transferred from a Turkish vehicle to an Iraqi one near the border, as shown in footage released by the ministry. Although General Miri indicated that arrests were made during the operation, he provided no details regarding the number or nationalities of those detained.

The successful seizure was the result of collaboration with security forces from the autonomous Kurdistan region and was aided by “very important information” from Saudi security authorities. Captagon, an illicit amphetamine-like stimulant, has been a prominent export for Syria since the onset of its civil conflict in 2011.

In the past few years, Iraq and its neighboring countries, particularly Jordan and Saudi Arabia, have intensified joint efforts to combat drug trafficking. Iraq reported seizing six million Captagon tablets in 2022, and in 2024, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC) noted a significant increase in both the trafficking and consumption of Captagon in Iraq over the prior five years.

According to the UNDOC, in 2023, Iraq authorities seized a record high of 24 million Captagon tablets, equivalent to over 4.1 tonnes, with a retail value estimated between $84 million and $144 million. The report revealed that from 2019 to 2023, around 82 percent of Captagon seized in the Middle East was produced in Syria, followed by 17 percent from Lebanon.

The recent seizure of over a tonne of Captagon in Iraq signifies a substantial effort by security forces to combat drug trafficking in the region. This operation, resulting from strategic collaboration and intelligence sharing, underscores the increasing prevalence of Captagon as a significant narcotic originating from Syria. The ongoing challenges of trafficking highlight the need for sustained regional cooperation to address this pressing issue, as evidenced by the rising quantities of drugs seized in recent years.

Original Source: anfenglishmobile.com