American diplomat: Washington is concerned about drug trafficking in Iraq

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[size=52]American diplomat: Washington is concerned about drug trafficking in Iraq[/size]

[size=45]Translated by / Hamed Ahmed[/size]
[size=45]During his participation in the anti-drug conference held in the Kurdistan region on Sunday, the Consul General of the United States in Erbil, Mark Straw, said that the United States is concerned about the rapid spread of the narcotic substance Captagon and its widespread trafficking and abuse in the Middle East region, especially Iraq, as well as in the region.[/size]
[size=45]Straw said during his speech at the conference, which was organized by the Kurdistan Regional Government in the presence of the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Masrour Barzani, as well as the Minister of the Interior, Abdul Amir al-Shammari, that although this substance does not exist or is known in the United States, “we are concerned about the effects of Captagon and other narcotic substances on people.” “The health, economy, and social life of populations across the Middle East, especially here in Iraq and the Kurdistan region.”[/size]
[size=45]Straw highlighted his country's efforts to support Iraq in its efforts to combat drug trafficking by curbing the main smuggling networks, which he described as the primary lines for producing and smuggling Captagon, noting that it is often found in Jordan and Lebanon and that his country is supporting these two countries as part of efforts to combat illegal trade. for this article.[/size]
[size=45]For his part, the Prime Minister of the Regional Government, Masrour Barzani, stressed his government’s efforts to combat drugs, whose threats he said were similar to the threat of terrorism, calling for a joint international strategy to combat what he described as a disease.[/size]
[size=45]He said that there are armed groups considered part of drug trafficking networks that exploit security gaps in disputed areas to smuggle these materials.[/size]
[size=45]While the Minister of Interior, Abdul Amir Al-Shammari, said that drugs are one of the most dangerous problems that threaten the entity of the Iraqi state, stressing the necessity of cooperation with the Kurdistan region “in a joint mission to develop effective solutions and confront one of the most dangerous problems that have begun to stand in our way, which is the scourge of drugs.”[/size]
[size=45]Among the attendees were Turkish and Iranian diplomats, whose countries are often reported to be transit points for smuggling these narcotic substances. They also highlighted the efforts being made in both Turkey and Iran to combat the threats of drug trafficking and drug abuse.[/size]
[size=45]Most narcotic substances enter Iraq through smuggling. The main source of smuggling is Captagon pills from Syria, while hashish and other narcotic substances and pills come from Iran and Turkey. Interior Minister Al-Shammari stressed the need to control borders and crossings in order to curb sources of smuggling.[/size]
[size=45]It is noteworthy that the majority of drug users and addicts are between the ages of 20 and 30 years, and poverty and unemployment are among the reasons that push young people to abuse these narcotic substances.[/size]
[size=45]Medical reports indicate that the use of these narcotic pills “Captagon” leads to various health problems, including high blood pressure, hallucinations, blurred vision, loss of control, and psychological disturbance, which are common symptoms for users of these pills. Last July, the spokesman for the Ministry of Interior revealed that the Iraqi security forces had found for the first time Once at a laboratory that manufactures Captagon narcotic pills in Muthanna Governorate. Last year, Iraq announced its confiscation of the largest quantity of narcotic pills, estimated at more than 6 million pills. The United Nations team in Iraq UNCT plays a fundamental role in supporting the government in its efforts to combat drug trafficking, and by including more than 23 United Nations agencies, this team, through a dedicated fund and programs, is pledged to help Iraq achieve the desired goal of sustainable development by the year 2030. With Therefore, apart from the dangers of drugs, the rapid growth of Iraq's population is another problem that requires providing needs. The government, for its part, is proceeding with major reforms and financial reforms and adopting large federal budgets to confront challenges. The country also suffers from water scarcity, a looming threat that has caused the displacement of numbers of rural families, especially in the southern governorates, abandoning their agricultural lands and moving to city centers.[/size]
[size=45]The battle against drugs is not over yet in Iraq, but the conference's message calls for international solidarity in this regard to reach the desired goal of curbing this illegal trade.[/size]
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