Baghdad, SANA-The second Baghdad International Regional Conference on Combating Drugs kicked off in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, Monday with the participation of the interior ministers of Iraq’s neighboring countries, including Syrian interior minister Major General Mohammed al-Rahmon.
In his speech at the opening of the conference, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani affirmed that the Iraqi government has begun procedures to dismantle drug cartels, pointing to Iraq’s readiness for joint coordination with neighboring countries.
Al-Sudani noted that drugs were used to recruit terrorists in order to destabilize the region, explaining that the effects of drugs are not different from wars and displacement, just as the effects of the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza.
“The danger of drugs is increasing, Iraqi Interior Minister, Abdul Amir al-Shammari, was quoted by Iraqi News Agency, stressing the need for cooperation and coordination to confront the risks of drugs.
Al-Shammari clarified that without fruitful cooperation, the threat of drugs will continue, noting that Iraqi Interior Ministry has initiated numerous procedures and well-studied plans to pursue drug dealers.
He added that memoranda of understanding have been concluded with many countries to confront the drug phenomenon.
Latifa Moammar/ Manar Salameh