With Iraq seizing 18 million drug pills annually, Thanaa Al-Zajrawi, a member of the Parliamentary Health and Environment Committee, revealed the latest developments in the amendment of the Drug and Psychotropic Substances Law on Monday.
According to the Ministry of Justice, around 10,927 individuals are convicted of drug-related crimes, with 19% of total convictions being for drug use and trafficking.
Al-Zajrawi stated in a comment to “Al-Mada,” that “the upcoming legislative session will witness the enactment of the Drug and Psychotropic Substances Law.”
She pointed out that “there is an agreement to increase penalties for those convicted in drug cases to include execution and life imprisonment.”
She added that “amending the law has become an urgent necessity to intensify the punishment for drug traffickers and to develop capabilities for early detection.”
She continued by noting that “there is parliamentary support for enacting the drug law to eliminate this scourge, which has become a real threat to Iraq’s security.”
Adnan Al-Juhaishi, head of the Parliamentary Committee on Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, confirmed on June 4 that approximately 15 to 18 million drug pills are seized annually, in addition to 300 to 500 kilograms of narcotics.
Security incidents and murder rates have increased recently in Iraq, notably involving teenagers aged 15 and younger, due to the proliferation of uncontrolled weapons and drug spread, according to experts.
Uncontrolled weapons in Iraq are one of the country’s most serious problems, significantly impacting societal security. Since 2005, successive Iraqi governments have raised the slogan “Confine weapons to the hands of the state,” but there appear to be no effective steps towards its implementation.
Security officials indicate that the most popular drugs are crystal meth, with a price ranging from 15,000 to 25,000 dinars per gram ($11.50 to $19), and Captagon, with a price of about $2 per pill. Most users are young people aged 18 to 30.
The Iraqi Parliament enacted the Drug and Psychotropic Substances Law No. 50 of 2017, comprising 51 articles, following Iraq’s participation in numerous international treaties to combat drugs and psychotropic substances. This came amid a significant rise in the activities of criminal gangs specializing in drug smuggling and distribution across the country, including the cultivation of some types.
