The Iraqi General Directorate for Combating Drugs and Psychotropic Substances has arrested two drug dealers in the Karbala and Basra provinces, seizing 1.5 kilograms of crystal meth in a joint operation, officials announced on Tuesday.

The arrests were confirmed by Brig. Gen. Miqdad Miri, spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Interior and the Security Media Cell, who said the raid was conducted on the back of received intelligence. 

The directors of drug control in Karbala and Basra oversaw the arrests. 

The first suspect, a dealer of prohibited substances, was found with a quantity of crystal meth. "His information led to the arrest of another two suspects, who were found with 1.5 kilograms of crystal meth," the Ministry of Interior announced. 

The suspects' statements were presented to investigative judges, who detained them under Article 28 of the Anti-Drug Law.

A photo shared on social media by the Iraqi Ministry of Interior depicts the two suspects who were apprehended for drug dealing charges.

The Iraqi Ministry of Interior has been intensifying crackdowns on drug trafficking and related criminal activities across the country. 

On Sunday, the Ministry announced the arrest of an international drug dealer in Muthanna province who was found in possession of 275,000 Captagon pills. 

Further efforts by the Iraqi General Directorate of Intelligence and Security led to the apprehension of two drug smugglers and human traffickers in the provinces of Baghdad and Nineveh, as reported by Iraqi state media on Thursday.

Iraqi forces have also recently dismantled two drug trafficking networks in Al-Diwaniyah. 

The raids resulted in the seizure of over half a kilogram of crystal meth, various drug paraphernalia, and an assortment of weapons including rifles, an RPG-7 rocket launcher, hand grenades, and a pistol.