Iraqi Court Issues Death Sentences to 7 Drug Traffickers

An Iraqi court has sentenced seven individuals to death for drug trafficking, including one foreign national. The Central Criminal Court’s decision, announced Sunday by the Supreme Judicial Council, did not disclose the nationality of the foreigner involved. The convicts were found guilty of importing and exporting narcotic substances from neighboring countries.

Since the US invasion in 2003, Iraq has faced significant challenges in controlling drug trafficking due to ongoing chaos and conflict. The instability has hampered successive governments’ efforts to combat the escalating drug problem.

In May 2023, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani emphasized the critical need to tackle the drug trade, linking it to the financing of terrorism. Al-Sudani said drug dealing thrived in areas plagued by terrorist activities, complicating efforts to maintain security and public health.

The death sentences demonstrate Iraq’s severe penalties for drug-related offenses as the government intensifies its crackdown on the narcotics trade. The Iraqi leadership views the fight against drug trafficking as integral to its broader strategy to curb terrorism and restore order in the country.