Iraqi Trade Ministry announces joint crackdown on flour smuggling

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Ministry of Trade announced coordinated inspection operations targeting the illegal trade of flour allocated to the food rations system, according to a written statement released on Friday. Teams from the ministry's Commercial and Financial Audit Department carried out the operations in coordination with security forces in Babil, Karbala and Anbar provinces. The ministry said the inspections identified a number of commercial outlets in Babil that were selling ration flour at local markets. Authorities also seized expired food products, including frozen meat, chicken, confectionery, mineral water, fruit juice and dairy items. Security forces confiscated the seized goods and legal proceedings were initiated against the violators, the ministry added. Health inspection teams affiliated with the Ministry of Health destroyed the expired food on site to prevent it from reaching consumers. The statement did not specify how many outlets were involved or how much flour and other goods were seized. No further details on the legal cases were immediately available.