Iraq refers oil smuggling suspects in Jurf al-Nasr to judiciary, sacks security officials
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi has ordered the referral of those involved in oil smuggling in Jurf al-Nasr to the judiciary and dismissed several security and administrative leaders.
Key Takeaways
AIIraqi Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi has ordered the referral of those involved in the Jurf al-Nasr oil smuggling case to the judiciary, and dismissed a number of security and administrative officials.
Spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief, Sabah Al-Naaman, said in a statement that Al-Zaidi chaired an emergency security meeting on Saturday to review the findings of the committee investigating oil smuggling in the Jurf al-Nasr area of Babil province.
The committee presented its report and investigation results, confirming the accuracy of information from the Federal Intelligence and Investigations Agency regarding oil smuggling operations, the existence of illegal refineries, and cases of manipulation in the sector.
Based on the investigation's findings, the Commander-in-Chief ordered all suspects involved in oil smuggling operations to be referred to the judiciary and legal action taken against them. He also decided to dismiss the Babil Police Chief, the North Babil Police Director, the Director of Intelligence and Counterterrorism in Babil at the Ministry of Interior, the Director of National Security in Babil, the Director of Intelligence and Security in Babil at the Ministry of Defense, the Babil Intelligence Director, the Popular Mobilization Forces Commander in Babil, the Commander of the Sixth Energy Police Brigade at the Ministry of Interior, and the Director of the Oil Pipeline Company at the Ministry of Oil.
Al-Zaidi instructed that operations commanders, police chiefs in the provinces, and heads of security and intelligence agencies bear full responsibility for any oil smuggling within their jurisdictions. He stressed the need to tighten oversight and security measures to prevent such practices and hold negligent officials accountable, vowing that no part of Iraq—from Zakho to Basra—would remain a haven for smuggling.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister praised the investigative committee's efforts in exposing those involved in the theft of public funds, identifying responsible parties, and pursuing those implicated in oil smuggling under the law.
Al-Zaidi affirmed the government's commitment to protecting public funds, firmly confronting oil smuggling, and thwarting all attempts to undermine Iraq's national wealth. He emphasized that security and administrative responsibility requires preventing such crimes and holding anyone proven negligent or complicit to account.