Iraq arrests 11, including four officers, in Mosul-Kirkuk oil smuggling network

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi security forces detained 11 people, including four senior military officers, in an operation against a long-running oil smuggling network operating along transport routes between Mosul and Kirkuk, a security source at the Ninawa Province Directorate of Police said on Thursday. The detainees include members of the Ninawa Energy Police and civilian smugglers, the source added, noting that the investigation is continuing and efforts are underway to arrest other suspects who remain at large. According to the source, the network had been active since 2011 and was reorganized in 2017, gaining full control over Mosul-Kirkuk oil routes and collecting varying sums from every tanker under the pretext of official fees. A preliminary investigation indicated that billions of dinars were laundered and channeled into real estate and commercial investments, including wedding halls and well-known restaurants. One network member was found to hold 13 properties registered in his name. Ninawa police are expanding the investigation to track other elements of the network and to formally register seized assets in the name of the state, according to the source.