Iraq is emerging as a major conduit for drug trafficking in the Middle East, according to a recent United Nations report. In 2023, Iraqi authorities seized a record 24 million Captagon tablets, valued between $84 million and $144 million, indicating the country’s critical role in regional drug networks. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) highlighted that Iraq has been facing a significant increase in drug trafficking and consumption over the past five years.
“Iraq appears to be at the nexus of regional trafficking routes for both methamphetamine and Captagon,” the UNODC report stated. The report emphasized that Iraq is becoming a crucial junction in the complex trafficking dynamics of the Near and Middle East. This surge has been particularly alarming, with Captagon seizures reportedly tripling between 2022 and 2023, and the total amount seized in 2023 being 34 times higher than in 2019.
Captagon, an amphetamine-based stimulant, is primarily produced in Syria and trafficked across several Middle Eastern countries, with Saudi Arabia as its largest market. The Iraqi border with Syria, stretching 600 kilometers, serves as a porous entry point for these drugs, facilitating their movement into Iraq and beyond. According to the UNODC, 82% of the Captagon seized in the region between 2019 and 2023 originated in Syria, followed by Lebanon with 17%.
Iraq is not only a transit point for Captagon but also a significant route for methamphetamine smuggled from Afghanistan to the Gulf and Europe. Methamphetamine seizures in Iraq have increased almost sixfold since 2019, underscoring the country’s growing role in the international drug trade. This illicit drug trade exacerbates Iraq’s domestic drug crisis, further fueled by the country’s ongoing instability and economic hardships affecting its 43 million residents.
In response to these challenges, regional governments have intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking, largely driven by pressure from Gulf states. During a recent anti-drug conference attended by regional officials, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in tackling this issue. “Coordinating and cooperating to pursue and dismantle drug gangs will serve regional and international security,” al-Sudani stated. He affirmed Iraq’s willingness to collaborate with other nations to combat cross-border crime, pledging support for initiatives aimed at dismantling drug production hubs and supply chains.
The increasing drug trade in Iraq not only poses a significant threat to regional stability but also highlights the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address the growing drug crisis. As Iraq continues to grapple with the challenges of drug trafficking and consumption, international collaboration and strategic interventions are crucial to curbing this escalating threat.
