PM Al-Sudani: We devoted an expanded plan towards a drug-free Iraq

 
Baghdad-INA
 
Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani affirmed on Tuesday, that the drug issue is a serious threat to societies and state entities and the war against drugs is no less dangerous than the war against terrorism.
 
Al-Sudani said in a speech at 1st Baghdad Conference on Drug Control, according to a statement by his media office, which was received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): The drug issue is a serious threat to societies and state entities and the war against drugs is no less dangerous than the war against terrorism”.
 
“This enemy infiltrates to destroy families, children, and the social fabric, making it a complex war. Iraqi society is armed with remarkable values that reject drugs, and Iraqis are proud of this stance”, he continued.
 
The prime minster also affirmed that “Iraq will not tolerate the spread of drugs at either the legal or social level, and security forces will deal with drug trafficking and transportation as a security and terrorist threat”.
 
Al-Sudani added,"Iraq has established special clinics that provide medical, psychological, and social support to victims of drug addiction. Iraq enacted Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law No. 50 of 2017, which sets goals, mechanisms, and penalties for drug-related offenses”. 
 
The Higher Commission for Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and the Directorate for Narcotics Affairs at the Ministry of Interior were formed in cooperation with the Ministries of Labor and Health.
 
 The statement continued,"Iraq aims to unify efforts with its Arab brothers to confront the drugs pandemic and research available statistics and information about it.  Iraq has devoted efforts under a national strategy to combat drugs, for the years 2023-2025, as part of an expanded plan towards a drug-free Iraq"
 
 
 “The media and societal awareness play an important role, as do the contributions of religious, cultural, and educational institutions to raise awareness of the dangers of drugs. Iraq will spare no effort to fight drugs at the legislative and governmental levels, and will prepare trained and professional staff to address this challenge,” the statement affirmed.
  
The prime minster also confirmed “Terrorism and drugs are two sides of the same crime, and the financing of terrorism is often based on drugs. International and regional cooperation through the exchange of information and coordination is needed to uncover drug networks and combat them effectively. Iraq faces drugs at the domestic level, and cooperation at the international level is crucial to addressing this threat”.