Iraqi court sentences seven drug traffickers to death

An Iraqi court has sentenced seven people to death for drug trafficking, including a foreign national. The decision of the Central Criminal Court, announced on Sunday by the Supreme Judicial Council, did not reveal 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. Instability has hampered efforts by successive governments to combat the growing drug problem.

In May 2023, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani highlighted the crucial need to combat drug trafficking, linking it to the financing of terrorism. Al-Sudani said drug trafficking thrived in areas plagued by terrorist activity, complicating efforts to maintain security and public health.

The death sentences demonstrate Iraq's harsh penalties for drug offenses as the government steps up its crackdown on the narcotics trade. Iraqi leaders view the fight against drug trafficking as an integral part of their broader strategy to fight terrorism and restore order in the country.