KRG Advances Strategy to Combat Narcotic and Psychotropic Substance
On Sunday, 15 February 2026, in Erbil, the conference “A Kurdistan Region Free from Narcotic Substances” was held with the participation of officials from the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Federal Government of Iraq, United Nations agencies, local and international organisations, and specialised experts.
The conference was organised under the supervision of the KRG Office of the Coordinator for International Advocacy (OCIA), in coordination with the High Committee for Combating Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances and the International Organization for Human Rights and Refugee Affairs.
In the opening session, the Coordinator for International Advocacy delivered a speech highlighting the importance of the KRG’s strategy in addressing narcotic substances and the achievements of the Ninth Cabinet in this field. He noted that on 15 October 2023, within the framework of the KRG Human Rights Plan (2021–2025), the first conference on combating narcotic and psychotropic substances was held with the participation of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani. The conference provided an opportunity to bring together relevant stakeholders, present data, identify challenges, and propose recommendations, which subsequently circulated among regional institutions for implementation as part of the anti-drug response process.
The Coordinator also referred to ongoing coordination with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to strengthen institutional capacities, including investigators, security agencies, the public prosecution, and judicial authorities. This cooperation includes logistical support, provision of specialised medical testing equipment, and information exchange. The OCIA has organised more than 68 workshops with United Nations agencies to support rapid response coordination on narcotic and psychotropic substances.
According to statistics from relevant institutions for 2025, a total of 922 kilograms and 963 grams of narcotic substances and 12,194 controlled medical pills were seized. During the same year, the total number of convicted individuals held in correctional facilities across the Region’s three governorates reached 1,709, while the number of suspects detained by security forces reached 2,784 individuals.
In concluding remarks, the Coordinator emphasised that the success of the KRG’s efforts requires the participation of all sectors of society, continued coordination and cooperation with international partners, and strengthened regional cooperation to combat trafficking networks involved in narcotic and psychotropic substances.
