ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - The Iraqi interior ministry on Thursday said that crime in the country "dropped to its lowest level in years" during the first 100 days of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's government as a result of "intensifying intelligence and security efforts, strengthening regional security, and developing rapid response mechanisms."

Since assuming office in May, Zaidi has made anti-corruption efforts and a drive to restrict weapons to state ownership the cornerstones of his domestic policy, with the former initiative having seen several high-profile officials arrested during a sweeping crackdown on those accused of graft in June.

By late July, Iraq had seized over $125 million and 380 kilograms of gold and jewelry hidden in various places in a corruption case involving Adnan al-Jumaili, the detained oil ministry undersecretary for refining affairs.

"During the first 100 days of the current government, the crime rate in the country has dropped to its lowest level in years, which reflects the high results achieved by the security forces in performing their duties in various specialties," the interior ministry's media department chief Miqdad Miri said, as reported by Iraqi state media.

"This decrease came as a result of intensifying intelligence and security efforts, strengthening regional security, developing rapid response mechanisms, as well as pursuing wanted individuals, dismantling criminal networks, and taking proactive measures to prevent crime."

In October, while Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani held the premiership, Miri said that crime in the country had significantly decreased in the 2024-2025 timeframe, adding that "the security situation in Iraq—in terms of crime rates—is much better than in some European countries."

Iraqi law enforcement agencies earned significant international plaudits in 2025. The country’s Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) announced in October that its teams had bested 38 military teams from 20 countries to win the Annual Warriors Competition held in Jordan, while the interior ministry was ranked in first place for its anti-drugs efforts at the 39th Arab Conference of the Heads of Anti-Narcotics Agencies in Tunisia in the same month.

"The Ministry of Interior continues to develop its security plans and enhance its field presence, which contributes to consolidating security and stability and protecting the lives and property of citizens, leading to a more stable security environment in all governorates of the country," Miri concluded in his Thursday remarks.