ERBIL — Since the occupation of Kurdish territories by the Iranian-backed militias of Hashd al-Shaabi, drug-related crimes have been on the rise with an official claiming that around 40% of the young men in Tuz Khurmatu are now addicted to illegal drugs.
Local officials, including the chief of police in Tuz Khurmatu, believe that the business is run by militia commanders, and they are often supported by officials in higher ranks that could evade prosecution.
Ghalib Fayaq, a representative for the Kurdistan Islamic Group (KIG / Komal) in Tuz Khurmatu, told BasNews that using illegal drugs is no longer an isolated case in the city as multiple reports confirm even addiction among high school students.
He said the phenomenon is noticed more among the Turkmen population of Tuz Khurmatu. “Recently the police announced the capture of a drug-dealing cartel of 18 people. However, the point is that the main individuals who run the larger drug business are beyond the law and they cannot be arrested,” Fayaq stated.
A source, who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons, told BasNews that a young man from the Shi’ite Turkmen community in Tuz Khurmatu is the key person among the cartels. The source identified him as “Ahmed Irani”.
“Ahmed Irani is a member of Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq of Hashd al-Shaabi. He brings in drugs from southern Iraq to Khanaqin and then to Tuz Khurmatu… On 24 October, Ahmed Irani and his men fired at the house of chief of police with heavy arms after the police captured several people linked to Irani,” the source claimed, noting that a sister of the chief of police was injured during the attack.
Hussein Ali, Chief of Tuz Khurmatu Police, previously confirmed the attack on his house in a statement to a local news website. He said that the police forces were not even able to search a suspicious location as it belonged to a member of the militias linked to Ahmed Irani.