Anbar: The Military Intelligence Directorate announced on Tuesday the thwarting of an attempt to smuggle 44,000 narcotic pills in Anbar province. In a statement, the Directorate detailed the operation, emphasizing the high level of precision and field vigilance involved.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, detachments from the Intelligence and Security Department of the 5th Infantry Division, Military Intelligence Directorate, carried out the operation after meticulous surveillance and monitoring using thermal cameras. The operation prevented the smuggling of a dangerous shipment of narcotics, which employed a novel method involving GPS-equipped balloons. These balloons were dropped in Wadi Houran in Anbar province and contained approximately 44,000 Captagon pills. The intention was to use this unusual method to bypass checkpoints and confuse security monitoring.

The statement further explained that the operation involved complex intelligence tracking and continuous monitoring of the movements of those involved. This enabled the Directorate’s detachments to completely seize the shipment before it reached its destination and to prevent this new criminal method from becoming a recurring threat.