Baghdad: Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi affirmed on Friday that Iraq is waging a war against corruption and drugs, noting that Iraq has become a leader among regional countries in preventing their smuggling into its territory or their use as a transit route to other countries.

According to Iraqi News Agency, the Prime Minister’s Media Office stated in a press release that “Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi conducted a field visit on Friday to the General Directorate of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Affairs, affiliated with the Ministry of Interior, to review the progress of work and efforts exerted in combating narcotics and psychotropic substances.”

During his visit, Al-Zaidi toured the halls of the Directorate’s permanent exhibition, which showcases the types of drugs, smuggling routes, methods of use, procedures for apprehending traffickers, and mechanisms for treating users and addicts. He also visited the exhibition honoring the Directorate’s martyrs who were killed during operations to pursue drug traffickers and combat this issue in recent years. He recited Surah Al-Fatihah in remembrance of their sacrifices in the service of protecting society and the security of citizens.

The Prime Minister chaired a meeting with the senior staff of the Directorate, in the presence of the Director of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. During the meeting, he listened to a detailed presentation on the nature of the work and the results achieved, as well as the most prominent challenges facing anti-drug efforts.

The Prime Minister emphasized during the meeting that Iraq is waging a war against corruption and drugs, stressing that there will be no leniency or retreat in this battle, as it is essential for the protection of Iraq’s future and future generations. He highlighted significant progress in the fight against drugs and reiterated that Iraq’s goal is to become completely free of drugs.

He commended the efforts of the Directorate’s staff and expressed gratitude for their dedication in performing their duties, while also calling for increased efforts and continued development of their work. The Prime Minister instructed officials to pay attention to drug users and address their situations, alongside providing necessary resources to support the General Directorate of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances.

Al-Zaidi directed the formation of a committee comprising concerned parties to follow up on the drug issue and to submit a monthly report to him, detailing achievements and documenting drug seizure and destruction operations.