Baghdad: The National Security Service announced targeting smuggled and counterfeit drug gangs with operations in 4 governorates: The Service said in a statement, “Within the framework of the ongoing security efforts to combat the smuggling and circulation of unlicensed drugs, the National Security Service succeeded in directing painful blows to drug smuggling and promotion networks in 4 governorates.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the statement added, “In Basra, our detachments thwarted the smuggling of 285 cartons of unregistered drugs and 500,000 ampoules that were heading to Baghdad with forged customs papers, with the arrest of 3 suspects.

It continued, “In Maysan, a violating pharmacy containing 1,757 expired pharmaceuticals was seized.

He said, “Our detachments in Kirkuk succeeded in uncovering an organized network and seizing a secret warehouse containing 124,000 unlicensed pharmaceutical items that were being smuggled from the Kurdistan Region, and two suspects were arrested.

The statement explained, “In Wasit, in cooperation with the Pharmacists Syndicate, 19,000 expired drug boxes weighing more than one ton and 750 kilograms were seized, in addition to 1,161 counterfeit drug boxes, with the arrest of the main suspect.