An Expected Operation to Destroy 3 Tons of Seized Materials in Kirkuk

Baghdad – INA

The Supreme National Commission for narcotic drugs and Psychotropic Substances Affairs on Thursday, detailed the mechanism and stages of destruction of seized drug substances, and while it announced the destruction of tons of seized substances in various areas, it pointed to an upcoming operation to destroy 3 tons of seized substances in Kirkuk.

The director of the follow-up department of the commission's work, Ahmed Al-Abadi, said in statement to the Iraqi News Agency (INA) "The Supreme National Commission for narcotic drugs and Psychotropic Substances Affairs works under the chairmanship of the minister of Health, and includes all agencies; entities and ministries specialized in combating drugs from the therapeutic, preventive and security side”.

He pointed out that "the Ministry of Health has made great efforts in the field of combating drugs, which included two aspects: the first is to treat users and addicts of narcotic substances, and the second is to raise awareness of the people of the dangers of this devastating scourge.
 
He explained that "there is a central committee for the destruction of drugs formed according to Article 42 of the Drug Law No. 50 of 2017", indicating that "the committee destroyed tons of seized materials, in addition to the provinces of Najaf and Basra, where millions of narcotic pills were seized”.
 
He added that "the committee is headed by a first judge and with the membership of all competent authorities, and its work begins through examination and matching the weight with the seizure orders, and then the materials are destroyed at high temperatures exceeding 1400 degrees Celsius, and after the end of the burning process, laboratory confirmation of the exhaustion and damage of all narcotic substances”.
 
He continued that " 8 months ago, the equivalent of 6 tons of narcotic substances and 54 million pills, as well as 31 thousand ampoules and 9 thousand vials of psychotropic substances were destroyed, along with half a ton of narcotic substances in Najaf province and 427 thousand narcotic pills, while a quarter of a ton and more than 350 thousand narcotic tablets were destroyed in Basra province”.
 
He pointed out that " last week the committee destroyed 33 kilograms and one million narcotic pills" ,noting that "an upcoming operation will be carried out in Kirkuk province involving the destruction of 3 tons of narcotic substances”.