Iraqi military intelligence foiled a sophisticated smuggling method this weekend. Security forces seized sixty thousand Captagon pills. The operation occurred in Iraq’s vast western Anbar desert. Officials announced this significant interdiction on Saturday. The drugs were destined for cross-border transport uniquely. Smugglers employed a sophisticated smuggling method using balloons.
Haider Mohammadawi detailed the operation for the media. He leads the military intelligence service’s media office. Precise intelligence guided the successful security operation. Ongoing field surveillance also provided critical information. Units from the Military Intelligence Directorate executed the plan. They coordinated with the Fifth Infantry Division closely. Together they stopped the shipment effectively.
The smugglers used balloons fitted with GPS devices. This sophisticated smuggling method bypasses traditional patrols. Balloons can cross border security barriers quietly. They then land at pre-determined coordinates automatically. The pills were prepared for this aerial transport. Authorities foiled the attempt before it succeeded.
Mohammadawi confirmed the shipment never reached its target. This operation disrupts a major drug supply route. It is part of a broader security campaign currently. The goal is dismantling narcotics networks completely. Iraq faces a substantial challenge with drug trafficking.
Official statistics reveal the scale of this fight. Security forces dismantled over twelve hundred networks last year. Most networks operated domestically within Iraq. Hundreds of other networks had international connections. Authorities seized more than fourteen tons of substances. This latest seizure adds to that considerable total.
The Captagon trade fuels regional instability and addiction. This sophisticated smuggling method shows evolving tactics. Iraqi forces continue adapting their counter-strategies accordingly. Such interdictions protect communities from narcotic harm. The government remains committed to this ongoing security mission.

