Iraq Sentences Five to Life Imprisonment Over 194,000 Amphetamine Pills Seized in Anbar

Authorities ramp up enforcement under anti-narcotics law as drug trafficking concerns grow in the region

A court in Iraq’s western Anbar province has sentenced five individuals to life in prison following the seizure of nearly 200,000 narcotic tablets intended for trafficking and distribution, state news agency INA reported on Wednesday.

The suspects were arrested in possession of 194,000 amphetamine pills, a highly addictive stimulant increasingly prevalent in illicit drug networks across the Middle East.

The ruling was issued under Iraq’s anti-narcotics law, which prescribes severe penalties for large-scale drug trafficking offences.

While the statement did not specify the exact type of amphetamine seized, Captagon—a drug that has fuelled a multibillion-dollar illegal trade in the region—has been frequently intercepted by Iraqi security forces in recent years.

The Anbar conviction marks one of the larger sentencing actions this year as Iraqi authorities intensify efforts to disrupt smuggling operations and distribution rings operating within the country’s borders.

Iraq has emerged as both a destination and transit route for narcotics, with officials warning of growing addiction rates and cross-border trafficking networks.