Baghdad: The National Security Service announced the arrest of a drug dealer impersonating a journalist.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Service revealed that the arrest was made possible through precise intelligence and continuous field monitoring of drug trafficking activities. The international drug dealer had been masquerading as a ‘war correspondent’ to disguise his criminal operations. This false identity allowed him to transport crystal methamphetamine across provinces, ultimately reaching Baghdad where it was distributed to smaller dealers. During the operation, authorities seized quantities of narcotics and several forged identification cards used by the suspect to facilitate his movements.

The statement further detailed that, with judicial approval, the Service’s detachments conducted a successful operation in Dhi Qar Governorate. This operation led to the arrest of another suspect involved in drug trafficking, from whom more than 111,000 Captagon pills and a firearm were seized.

In a related security initiative, agency detachments in Diwaniyah intensified their efforts against drug trafficking through intelligence operations. This led to the arrest of a suspect found with a quantity of crystal methamphetamine. Additionally, operations in the provincial capital resulted in the dismantling of a network comprising four suspects. Authorities seized weapons, drug paraphernalia, and cash, further disrupting the drug trade in the region.