Energy Police arrest 10 in oil smuggling crackdown

BAGHDAD – The Energy Police Command announced the arrest of 10 suspects involved in oil smuggling operations and raided a site used for the illegal trade, seizing five vehicles in operations conducted in Baghdad and Basra.

In Basra, the 8th Brigade of the Energy Police apprehended eight individuals attempting to enter the Rumaila South Oil Field with forged security permits. Meanwhile, in Baghdad, the 3rd Brigade raided a location on the Karkh side used for refining and smuggling oil products. This operation led to the arrest of one suspect and the seizure of three vehicles equipped with metal tanks filled with an unspecified quantity and type of oil product.

Additionally, the 4th Brigade on the Rusafa side of Baghdad detained one individual and confiscated his vehicle loaded with an unknown amount of oil product, due to discrepancies between the serial numbers on the vehicle and those listed on the loading document.

The suspects have been detained, with further investigations pending to prepare the cases for the specialized judiciary, in accordance with Law No. 41 of 2008, which addresses the smuggling of oil and its derivatives.