ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iraq’s interior ministry said on Thursday it seized 64 kilograms of illegal narcotics in a joint security operation with Iranian authorities as part of ongoing efforts to combat cross-border drug trafficking.

In a statement, the ministry said the operation was carried out by the General Directorate for Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Affairs, under direct orders from the interior minister and after obtaining legal approval. One suspect was arrested during the operation.

The seizure took place in the Iranian city of Abadan, where a specialized Iraqi unit worked in close coordination with Iran’s anti-narcotics authorities, the statement said.

Officials described the operation as part of broader international security cooperation to curb the flow of drugs across borders.

The ministry said joint security work based on international agreements has helped deal strong blows to drug trafficking networks and prevent the spread of narcotics that threaten public safety and social stability.

Iraq’s interior ministry said it will continue coordinating with neighboring countries to protect citizens and combat organized crime.

Iraq has stepped up its counter-narcotics campaign in recent years, expanding cooperation with neighboring and international partners as the country increasingly serves as a transit route for drug trafficking due to its long borders with Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani said earlier this month that Baghdad has established 33 points of contact with other countries, leading to the seizure of six tons of narcotics through international coordination.

Iraq has also signed cooperation agreements, including a memorandum of understanding with Iran, and carried out joint operations with Syria and Saudi Arabia to curb cross-border smuggling.

According to Iraqi officials, these efforts have resulted in major arrests and seizures. In October, Iraqi and Syrian forces seized 370 kilograms of drugs in a joint operation, while Iraqi security forces arrested two senior international drug traffickers in Saudi Arabia in September.

The interior ministry said that more than 1,200 drug trafficking networks, including 171 international cells, have been dismantled over the past three years.

Iraq was ranked third globally in combating narcotics at the World Police Summit in the UAE, and authorities say thousands of suspects have been arrested and handed heavy sentences as part of the crackdown.