Baghdad: The Iraqi Border Forces Command: announced today the thwarting of two attempts to smuggle narcotics via balloons along the Iraqi international border west of Anbar province. The Command stated in a press release that "detachments from the 2nd Regiment of the 6th Border Brigade and the 3rd Regiment of the 5th Border Brigade, in two separate operations, were able to detect two balloons using thermal cameras, intercept them, and bring them down."

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the intercepted balloons were carrying 32 kg and 25 kg of narcotics, respectively, totaling more than 311,000 drug pills.