Iraq breaks up currency forgery ring in Basra, foils dollar distribution in Kirkuk

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s National Security Service said Sunday it dismantled a currency counterfeiting network in Basra and arrested a man in Kirkuk accused of distributing forged U.S. dollars.

In a statement, the agency said its Basra branch carried out a targeted operation based on intelligence information that led to the arrest of three suspects involved in counterfeiting and smuggling currency into Iraq.

Officers first detained a suspect in Basra city who was carrying a large sum of counterfeit Iraqi dinars. His confession led to the arrest of a second man, then a third suspect described as a foreign national accused of smuggling forged currency from a neighboring country. The statement did not name the country.

In a separate case, National Security personnel in Kirkuk arrested a man accused of selling and promoting counterfeit money. He was detained in a sting operation with $10,000 in fake $100 notes and admitted the bills had been brought into Iraq from a neighboring country, according to the statement.

All suspects and seized currency were referred to the relevant authorities for legal action.

In September, the Interior Ministry said counterfeit currency crimes had fallen by 85 to 90 percent in 2025 compared with previous years, crediting tighter enforcement and economic measures for the decline.