The head of Iran’s anti-narcotics police, General Iraj Kakavand, issued warnings on Wednesday to Iranian visitors heading to Iraq to participate in the Arbaeen pilgrimage, which will be held on August 25.

General Kakavand said in a press conference that “Iraqi laws are strict regarding drugs and the use of psychotropic substances, and anyone who buys, sells, transports and uses drugs in Iraq will be punished with a fine of up to 5 million dinars and imprisonment for up to one year.”

He added that “during the Arbaeen pilgrimage, according to Iraqi law, people carrying illegal drugs and medicines will be fined 5 million dinars and imprisoned for one year.”

He explained, “People should not take illegal medicines with them on the Arbaeen pilgrimage to Iraq because relief organizations such as the Red Crescent provide the medicines people need.

The Arbaeen Pilgrimage Committee in Iran announced that until Wednesday, about 980,000 pilgrims have entered Iraqi territory through all land and air ports.

While the
Iranian authorities expected that about 4.5 million Iranian pilgrims will participate in the Arbaeen Visit this year.

The head of the Iranian Anti-Narcotics Police also revealed that his country had arrested a network he described as huge for smuggling drugs from the eastern borders into Iran.

He said, “Three huge smuggling networks with a financial value of more than a thousand billion tomans were arrested, and they were importing them from the eastern borders of the country.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency