An Iraqi court has issued death sentences to seven drug dealers, including a foreigner, for drug trafficking in the country.

“The Central Criminal Court issued a verdict to execute seven drug dealers, including a foreigner, who were convicted of trafficking narcotic substances,” the Supreme Judicial Council said in a statement on Sunday, without specifying the nationality of the foreigner.

The council noted that the convicts were sentenced to death for importing and exporting narcotic substances from neighbouring countries, according to local media reports.

NDLEA intercepts drugs imported from India

The chaos and conflicts that have engulfed Iraq since the United States invasion in 2003 impeded the Iraqi government from effectively addressing the threat of drugs.

In May 2023, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani underlined the importance of waging “a war on drugs”.

He said drug dealing remains one of the main ways of financing terrorism, and the circulation of drugs flourishes in the shadow of terrorism.

The Star