Peregraf— The Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS) announced on Tuesday that it has dismantled an international drug trafficking network operating inside Syria, seizing more than 200,000 Captagon pills in a coordinated cross-border operation.
The intelligence-led mission, conducted in cooperation with Syrian security authorities, resulted in the arrest of five suspects. They were allegedly planning to smuggle large quantities of the amphetamine-based stimulant into Iraq via multiple shipments.
According to an INIS statement, the arrests followed "precise intelligence and continuous tracking across several regional countries" in what officials described as a "high-level preemptive operation."
The seizure of more than 200,000 Captagon pills represents one of the more significant drug busts announced by Iraqi authorities in recent months, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat the flow of synthetic drugs across Middle Eastern borders.
Captagon, a brand name for the stimulant fenethylline, has become increasingly prevalent across the Middle East in recent years. The drug has been linked to large-scale production operations in Syria, with trafficking networks attempting to smuggle pills into neighboring countries, including Iraq, Jordan, and the Gulf states.
The collaboration between Iraqi and Syrian security forces marks a notable instance of intelligence sharing between the two nations regarding counter-narcotics efforts.
The INIS did not immediately provide details on the nationalities of the arrested suspects or specify the exact location of the operation inside Syria.