ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The Erbil local security forces (Asayish) on Monday announced the arrest of three individuals caught in possession of 1.8 kilograms of narcotics.

The Asayish forces in cooperation with the Kurdistan Region’s anti-narcotics directorate arrested three individuals who were caught in possession of 1.8 kilograms of narcotic drugs, “including crystal meth, marijuana, heroin, as well as various other prescription pills,” read a statement by Erbil’s Asayish forces on Monday.

The arrests come less than ten days after the Kurdistan Region’s anti-narcotics department on February 16 announced that they had arrested 35 people on drug-related charges in the past few weeks and seized 51 kilograms of narcotic substances.

The statement added that the forces were also able to seize “an unlicensed weapon of the pistol variety, and equipment for weighing drugs.”

The Kurdistan Region’s authorities have time and again expressed their commitment to combatting the spread of narcotics in the Region.

A delegation from the American Sterling Charity Foundation in June met with Erbil’s governor Omed Khoshnaw to discuss the opening of a rehabilitation center in the province.

Two more centers are also said to be built in Sulaimani and Duhok provinces.