Iraqi border forces detain a group of hunters along with several falcons in the Muthanna desert for violating hunting regulations.
Four Kuwaiti nationals among five arrested in Muthanna desert for illegal hunting
MUTHANNA — The Interior Ministry announced Wednesday the arrest of four Kuwaiti hunters and their Iraqi guide in the Muthanna desert, seizing five falcons and two Kuwaiti-registered vehicles in their possession. The ministry said the group had entered Iraq on tourist visas and violated regulations governing foreign hunting activities.
“Through security operations and intensive field monitoring, patrols from the Muthanna Customs Police Department under the Border Forces Command arrested five hunters — four Kuwaiti nationals holding tourist entry visas and one Iraqi — in the ‘Adimah’ area of the Muthanna desert for violating the rules and conditions regulating the entry of foreign hunters and hunting inside Iraqi territory,” the ministry said in a statement.
It added that security forces confiscated “five falcons and two vehicles carrying Kuwaiti license plates,” and that “legal procedures have been initiated against them.”
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing hunting regulations, saying it “will not allow any violations of the regulations and instructions issued by the relevant Iraqi authorities.”
Under Iraq’s hunting rules, issued by the Interior Ministry in October 2024, Arab and foreign hunters must obtain a special visa through licensed Iraqi security companies and pay a $20,000 permit fee. Each hunter may bring up to two falcons, with an additional $5,000 charged per extra bird.
The regulations, established under National Security Council Decision No. 19 of 2023 and Wildlife Protection Law No. 17 of 2010, hold security companies accountable for ensuring compliance. Violators face doubled fees, legal penalties, and possible bans. The ministry said the rules aim to protect fragile desert ecosystems and curb overhunting in areas such as Najaf and Muthanna.
A similar case occurred on Oct. 19, when three Kuwaiti hunters were detained in the same area for violating Iraqi hunting laws. They were found with three falcons and referred to authorities for further investigation.
