Baghdad: The Ministry of Interior announced on Saturday the dismantling of an international network and the seizure of 90 kg of hashish in Iraqi territorial waters.

According to Iraqi News Agency, the Director of Media of the General Directorate for Narcotics Affairs at the Ministry of Interior, Brigadier General Abbas Al-Bahadli, stated that this operation marked the first time such an extensive operation was conducted deep within Iraqi territorial waters. Under the supervision of the Central Investigative Court in Rusafa, personnel from the General Directorate for Narcotics Affairs, in collaboration with the Military Intelligence Directorate and the Naval Forces Command, executed a security operation targeting drug-trafficking networks. The operation led to the dismantling of an international network involving three suspects, including one foreign national, and the seizure of 90 kilograms of hashish, along with two boats used in the smuggling operation.

Al-Bahadli further explained that the teams embarked on their mission from the Umm Qasr Naval Base, undertaking a 16-hour round trip. The operation followed several days of precise surveillance and monitoring within Iraqi territorial waters, which are adjacent to one of the neighboring countries.