ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iraq’s Ministry of Interior announced Monday that it has ranked third in global efforts to fight drug trafficking and abuse, according to the latest World Police Summit held in the UAE.

The ranking placed Iraq behind India in first place and Montenegro in second. The summit evaluated 138 countries and 205 governmental and non-governmental organizations.

In a statement, the ministry said Iraqi police forces are working hard to stop the spread of drugs and take down both local and international drug networks. Officials credited the support of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari, and the Iraqi judiciary.

“We are committed to protecting our people and continuing this battle against drugs,” the ministry said. “Our sacrifices will remain a symbol of pride and safety in Iraq.”

The ministry also shared updated drug enforcement statistics. In the first three months of 2025, more than 3,000 suspects were arrested. Courts sentenced 973 people for drug trafficking or use. Authorities seized over 2.1 tons of illegal substances during this time.

A major portion of the seizures came from Baghdad. A special investigations team in the Rusafa district, acting on court orders, recovered 1.5 tons of various drugs. During some operations, two suspects were killed and 13 others were wounded.

In February, the ministry promised 2025 would be a tough year for drug dealers, calling for stronger action at both national and international levels.

The World Police Summit was hosted by the Dubai Police, bringing together representatives from law enforcement agencies across the globe. The theme of the 2025 edition of the summit was "Beyond the Badge: Envision the Next Era of Policing," with its official website noting that the gathering entailed "53,000 visitors, 170+ exhibitors, 300+ global speakers, and 85+ chiefs of police from over 110+ countries."

Iraqi authorities arrested around 14,500 suspects on drug-related charges in 2024, and issued death sentences for 144 suspected drug-traffickers. At least 454 others were sentenced to perpetual imprisonment (20 years in Iraqi law), according to official data.