Iraqi security authorities announced Thursday the arrest of several suspects in drug trafficking cases, including one person they said holds an Arab nationality and another described as an 'international drug dealer,' as well as the seizure of quantities of Captagon pills and other narcotics in operations carried out in several provinces.

The General Directorate for Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances said in a statement that its forces arrested two individuals it described as major drug promoters, one of whom holds an Arab nationality, in two separate operations based on intelligence information, adding that it confiscated a shipment of Captagon pills weighing 51 kilograms.

The directorate added that it seized the confiscated items and took legal measures against the detainees, referring them to the competent judicial authorities.

In a separate statement, the Iraqi National Security Service announced the arrest of a person it described as an 'international drug dealer' who was impersonating a 'war correspondent,' adding that the suspect used forged identities to facilitate his movements and transport the narcotic crystal meth between Iraqi provinces all the way to Baghdad before distribution, according to the statement.

The service said it seized quantities of narcotics and a number of forged IDs in the suspect's possession.

It added that a force from the service in Dhi Qar province arrested another person on drug trafficking charges, seizing more than 111,000 Captagon pills and a firearm.

Iraqi authorities burn tons of narcotics at a site south of Baghdad (archive - AFP)

Meanwhile, another force in Diwaniyah province arrested a person in possession of crystal meth.

The service also announced dismantling a network of four individuals in the center of Diwaniyah province, noting the seizure of weapons, drug paraphernalia, and sums of money in their possession. It stated that all detainees were referred to the competent authorities to complete legal procedures.

These operations come as part of a campaign Iraqi authorities say targets reducing drug trafficking and smuggling.

The General Directorate for Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances announced on June 28 that it had obtained more than 200 international arrest warrants against suspects in drug trafficking, saying this was part of expanding international cooperation and information exchange to pursue cross-border trafficking networks.