BAGHDAD: Strengthening the UK’s commitment to supporting Iraq’s security forces in the fight against drug production and trafficking, Tom Tugendhat, Britain’s security minister, announced expanded collaborative efforts during his visit to Baghdad on Monday.
Tugendhat emphasized the strategy to build upon robust counterterrorism cooperation and to broaden the security partnership to effectively address shared challenges related to serious organized crime. This extended collaboration aims to combat issues such as human smuggling, trafficking, narcotics, and money laundering, which together form a criminal network posing a threat to the stability of Iraq.
Though Iraq has primarily been a transit country for drugs, particularly the amphetamine Captagon, largely originating in neighboring Syria, recent indications suggest a potential shift towards local production. Tugendhat highlighted a recent discovery by Iraqi authorities of a Captagon production facility within Iraq.
UK Promises Extended Assistance to Iraq
Tugendhat underscored the intricate interconnectedness between the drug trade, human trafficking, terrorism, and violence. He highlighted that these illicit activities cast a broad shadow, impacting not only Iraq but also rippling across the wider region, affecting a multitude of regional partners.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani expressed his country’s significant efforts in combating drugs and human trafficking, acknowledging the upcoming agreements between the Iraqi and British interior ministries. These agreements are set to outline collaborative measures aimed at counterterrorism and addressing serious organized crime.
Speaking under the condition of anonymity, a British official said that the imminent agreements would focus on the exchange of vital intelligence, an effort poised to bolster counterterrorism initiatives and decisively tackle concerns tied to serious organized crime.
