Detachments of the National Security Service in Basra Governorate, in coordination with a Coast Guard force, were able to dismantle an international drug trafficking network and seize large quantities of narcotic substances, in a qualitative operation that extended over more than 48 hours of maritime monitoring.

According to a statement followed by Al-Raya, the operation resulted in the arrest of two foreign defendants who were found in possession of (10 kg) of marijuana while trying to smuggle it through territorial waters into the country.

This operation comes within a series of simultaneous operations carried out by the National Security Service in the governorate, which resulted in the arrest of 11 defendants of multiple nationalities and the seizure of large quantities of various narcotic substances.

In the details of the operations, the first accused was arrested red-handed in central Basra, in possession of (8,000) Tramadol pills and **(135) narcotic capsules**. A second accused was also arrested while trying to buy narcotic substances, in addition to a third accused, a foreigner who works as a financial intermediary between local merchants and drug dealers in one of the neighboring countries.

Based on the results of the investigations, three local merchants were identified, all of whom were caught red-handed, bringing the number of detainees linked to the network to (6) defendants.

Detachments of the Basra Security Directorate also carried out two separate operations, the first of which was accomplished by luring a foreign drug dealer and arresting him in the Shatt al-Arab District, and seizing 80 grams of crystal in his possession. As for the second, it resulted in the arrest of a foreign man and woman who were transporting quantities of crystal and marijuana.

The statement indicated that all defendants with the seized items would be referred to the competent judicial authorities to take legal measures against them.