Baghdad: More than 106 kilograms of drugs and 22,000 psychotropic pills were destroyed in Baghdad.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Ministry of Health announced on Saturday the destruction of approximately 106 kilograms of narcotics and 22,710 tablets of psychotropic substances, in addition to quantities of liquid substances and ampoules, at the Baghdad Forensic Medicine Department.
The ministry stated in a press release that, “In implementation of the directives of Health Minister Abdul Hussein Al-Moussawi, head of the Supreme National Commission for Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances, the destruction committee, under the supervision of the Supreme Judicial Council represented by Judge Yasser Al-Khaza’i, head of the committee, examined and destroyed quantities of narcotics and psychotropic substances stored at the Baghdad Forensic Medicine Department, totaling approximately 106 kilograms of various types of narcotics, 22,710 tablets of psychotropic substances, 2,794 milliliters of liquid substances, and 75 ampoules.”
The statement added that “the destruction process took place in the presence of Dr. Zaman Mahmoud Jassim, Rapporteur of the Supreme National Commission for Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances, and all members of the committee representing the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, the General Authority of Customs, the General Directorate of Narcotics Affairs, the Border Forces Command, and the Department of Forensic Medicine.”
Judge Yasser Al-Khaza’i, Head of the Central Destruction Committee, confirmed, based on the directives of the Supreme Judicial Council, as stated in the statement, “the acceleration of the destruction of narcotics, psychotropic substances, and chemical precursors in accordance with the provisions of Article (42) of the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law No. 50 of 2017, and under the auspices of the Minister of Health, Head of the Supreme National Commission for Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances.” He explained that “the destruction process took place in specialized incinerators reaching temperatures of 1000 degrees Celsius, which ensures the complete elimination of the substances and their conversion into ash free of any chemical residue.”
He continued, “The committee is continuing its work to expedite the destruction of narcotics, psychotropic substances, and chemical precursors seized by security agencies.”
The statement explained that “this step comes within the Ministry of Health’s efforts to implement the government program and establish a mechanism to combat drugs as a national priority, and to reduce the danger of these substances to society.”