The Iraqi Ministry of Interior announced Thursday the arrest of more than 200 individuals during a widespread raid in the Ma'roof neighborhood of Baghdad targeting networks involved in prostitution, drugs, and human trafficking - per Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Among the detainees were approximately forty Sudanese individuals with irregular residency status, according to a community member from the Bataween area, known as a hub for organized crime, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity.

“The operation will continue for several days, and it is the first of its kind in years,” said the Ministry of Interior spokesperson Brigadier General Muqdad Miri as saying, quoted by the official Iraqi News Agency

"The Ma'roof security operation resulted in the arrest of networks involved in prostitution, drugs, organized crime, human trafficking gangs, counterfeit industrial factories, unauthorized cargo transport offices, and numerous other networks,” he added.

Additionally, there were Arab and Bangladeshi citizens among the arrested. According to preliminary statistics, "207 suspects were arrested on various charges."

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