Baghdad: The General Authority of Customs announced on Thursday that it had thwarted an attempt to smuggle 45,000 narcotic pills concealed inside a tanker truck arriving from Syria.

According to Iraqi News Agency, the Authority stated, “The Directorate of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances, in cooperation with supporting security agencies, thwarted a dangerous attempt to smuggle approximately 45,000 narcotic pills that had been tightly concealed inside an empty tanker truck arriving from the Syrian Arab Republic, in an attempt to bring them into the country and distribute them.”

The statement added that “the operation was based on precise intelligence information, followed by advanced inspection procedures that led to the discovery of a concealed compartment inside the tanker and the seizure of the narcotics. The suspect was arrested and referred, along with the seized items, to the competent judicial authorities for legal action.”

The statement affirmed that “the operation reflects the high level of preparedness and effective coordination among the Customs Authority, the Directorate of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Affairs, and supporting security agencies in confronting drug-smuggling networks and thwarting their attempts to threaten the security of society and the health of citizens.”

The statement concluded that “the General Authority of Customs continues to carry out its oversight and security duties with utmost resolve to prevent the entry of narcotics and smuggled substances through border crossings to protect Iraq’s security and the safety of its people.”