Iraq’s General Directorate for Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances director general, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Salih al-Zarkani, told the Iraqi News Agency that Iraqi intelligence supported joint anti-drug operations with agencies in seven Arab and regional states.[1] He named those states as Kuwait, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Libya, saying precise Iraqi intelligence helped track international smuggling networks and seize large quantities of drugs.[1] An English account describes the same announcement as Iraqi intelligence leading to the seizure of about 9 metric tons of drugs in joint operations in seven countries, from Kuwait and Iran to Libya.[2]
Zarkani put the total seized outside Iraqi territory at about nine tons, comprising Captagon, crystal meth and hashish, without giving the period over which the operations occurred.[1] He said the latest operation was carried out in Libya on entirely Iraqi intelligence surveillance and seized 1,200,000 pills belonging to a criminal network operating from Chad.[1] Separately, he said recent operations included 20 kilograms of marijuana seized in one neighbouring country after the directorate sent specialist teams to coordinate with the local authorities and carry out the necessary security measures.[1] The English account confirms the 20 kilograms of marijuana seized in a neighboring country after specialized teams were sent, noting that Zarkani did not name the country.[2]
Zarkani presented the operations as evidence of developed Iraqi intelligence capabilities and the directorate’s ability to reach criminal networks beyond Iraq’s borders rather than pursuing their activity only inside the country.[1] He added that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime followed and studied the Iraqi experience in Vienna, and that Iraq placed third among 140 states and 200 organizations at the police summit held in Dubai in May 2025.[1]