Senior police officer wounded in armed clashes with suspected drug dealers in Iraq’s south

On Saturday, a senior police officer was wounded during armed clashes with suspected drug dealers in southern Iraq, according to the Iraqi Interior Ministry. The police colonel, who commanded the Anti-narcotics Office in the northern part of Thi Qar province, was leading a raid when the suspects opened fire on them, triggering the confrontation, the ministry reported.

The colonel suffered two gunshot wounds, one in his abdomen and another in his leg. He was subsequently transferred to a hospital where he underwent successful surgery, and his condition is currently stable. The two suspects were also injured in the exchange of gunfire. The raid concluded with the seizure of one kilogram of crystal meth, a Kalashnikov rifle, ammunition, and five hand grenades.

Drug trafficking and abuse have been on the rise in Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion that removed Saddam Hussein. The security forces have struggled to combat the issue due to a combination of factors, including weak governments, widespread corruption, porous borders, and a lack of coordination among agencies. Over the past two decades, Iraq has shifted from being a transit point for smuggling drugs to neighboring countries to a country with high levels of drug consumption.

The most prevalent drug is crystal methamphetamine, followed by Captagon, tramadol, heroin, and hashish.

In response to the growing problem, the Iraqi government has intensified efforts to curb drug smuggling and consumption, both domestically and in cooperation with neighboring countries, mainly Syria, Kuwait, and Lebanon. Several Iraqi and foreign drug dealers have been arrested, and daily seizures of drugs have become routine.