Iraq gives Kazem Hamad life term for drug trafficking

Iraq's judiciary said on Tuesday that a criminal court sentenced Kazem Hamad to life in prison for drug trafficking.

The National Centre for International Judicial Cooperation said the Karkh criminal court issued the life sentence and ordered the confiscation of Hamad's movable and immovable assets under the law.

The centre said Hamad was deported from Australia to Iraq in 2023 and arrested in January this year in response to an official request from Australia.

It described Hamad as one of the most wanted people by Iraqi and international judiciaries and said he smuggled large quantities of narcotics into Iraq and Australia.

The centre also said Hamad was linked to transnational organised crime gangs involved in drug trafficking, money laundering, murder, kidnapping, extortion and organised violence.