Iraq sacks nine officials over alleged oil smuggling
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Al Jazeera
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has sacked nine security and intelligence officials after an investigation into alleged oil smuggling in Jurf al-Nasr, in Babil province. Those implicated are to be referred to the courts, according to military spokesman Sabah al-Numan, quoted by INA.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered the dismissal of nine senior security officials after an investigation into alleged oil smuggling in the Jurf al-Nasr area, in Babil province. The measure concerns officials from the security and intelligence services, a commander from the Interior Ministry and the director of the Oil Pipelines Company at the Oil Ministry, according to military spokesman Sabah al-Numan, quoted by the Iraqi News Agency INA.
The investigation uncovered illegal refineries and evidence of manipulation linked to the diversion of oil. Ali al-Zaidi also ordered that those suspected of involvement in smuggling operations be referred to the courts, Sabah al-Numan said.
Jurf al-Nasr is an area where Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-aligned Iraqi paramilitary group, has significant influence. According to Al Jazeera, an oil smuggling network in the area is said to have generated up to $30 million a month, while two strategic pipelines south of Baghdad were allegedly secretly connected to divert oil.
