Karbala court sentences two for oil smuggling scheme

KARBALA — A criminal court in Karbala sentenced two individuals to 15 years in prison on Monday for illegally tapping into an oil pipeline and attempting to smuggle crude oil.

According to a statement from the Judiciary’s Media Office, “The defendants punctured and damaged one of the oil pipelines, installed a rubber hose, and attempted to smuggle crude oil to sell it to factory owners in exchange for money.”

The court issued the sentence under Article 4/1 of the Anti-Terrorism Law No. 13 of 2005, in conjunction with Article 6 (First) of the Anti-Oil and Derivatives Smuggling Law No. 41 of 2008, and with reference to Articles 47, 48, and 49 of the Penal Code.

Oil smuggling remains an issue in Iraq, often causing economic losses and posing environmental hazards. Authorities continue to intensify efforts to combat such illegal activities, imposing strict penalties on those involved in the exploitation of the country’s natural resources.

In September, Iraqi security forces arrested three individuals involved in an oil smuggling network on the outskirts of Baghdad. The Interior Ministry reported that teams from the Fourth Brigade of the Energy Police apprehended the suspects and seized several fuel tankers and personal belongings associated with the group. Investigations into the network’s activities are ongoing.