On 22 October 2025, Syria’s Interior Ministry said its Anti-Narcotics Directorate, in coordination with Iraq’s General Directorate for Narcotics Control, carried out a joint drug seizure in Syria.[1] Several suspects described as internationally wanted members of cross-border smuggling networks were arrested through joint field and intelligence coordination.[1] Iraq’s Interior Ministry said a specialized unit from its narcotics directorate entered Syrian territory in coordination with its Syrian counterparts to take part in the operation.[2]
The Syrian account put the seizure at 108 kilograms of hashish and more than 1.27 million Captagon pills.[3] The Iraqi account put the same operation’s overall seizure at 320 kilograms of narcotics, without separating hashish from the other drugs seized.[2] Only the 108 kilograms of hashish is counted as cannabis here; the 1.27 million Captagon pills reported alongside it are not counted in the cannabis figures.[2]
According to both ministries, the operation was part of ongoing international cooperation led by Syria’s Anti-Narcotics Directorate with brotherly countries to combat drug trafficking.[1] Both sides called protecting society from narcotics a national and moral responsibility and pledged to keep working to dry up drug sources and bolster cooperation safeguarding the security of Syria and Iraq.[1]
