BAGHDAD, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Iraq's National Intelligence Service (INIS) said Tuesday it had dismantled an international drug ring and seized 200,000 Captagon pills in a joint operation with Syria.
The mission was executed based on "accurate intelligence and continuous surveillance across multiple regional countries," an INIS statement said.
The operation was carried out in direct cooperation with Syrian security authorities, it said, adding that five members of the drug network were arrested for "planning to smuggle large quantities of Captagon into Iraq via Syrian territory in batches."
Years of chaos and conflict since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion have hampered Iraq's counter-narcotics efforts. In May 2023, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani said the drug trade remained a major source of financing for militant groups. ■
