16 arrested in Erbil for selling exam cheating devices

ERBIL — Security forces in Erbil have arrested 16 individuals accused of selling electronic devices used for cheating in school exams, after promoting them through social media, the Erbil Security Directorate said Sunday.

The arrests followed a surveillance operation targeting online accounts that advertised answers for grade 12 exams and offered specialized cheating equipment.

Authorities said the suspects were detained under judicial warrants during multiple operations, and 37 cheating devices were confiscated.

The suspects’ case files have been transferred to Erbil Police for further legal action. The directorate said efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend others involved in the manufacture and sale of such devices.

In a similar incident in late May, security forces in Sulaymaniyah arrested two individuals accused of selling and repairing wireless headsets used for cheating during exams. In such cases, students use the devices to call someone outside the testing center, read the questions aloud, and receive answers through hidden earpieces.