In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, an Iraqi court has sentenced nine individuals to death for their involvement in the illicit trade.

The Central Criminal Court’s verdict came after authorities seized a substantial 186 kg of various drugs.

The country has long struggled to combat the scourge of drug trafficking, with the ongoing instability and conflicts since the 2003 US invasion hindering efforts to address the issue.

However, in a recent push to tackle the problem, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani emphasized the need for a concerted “war on drugs” in May 2023, citing the link between drug trafficking and terrorism financing.