Police arrest motorcycle theft ring in Iraq's Maysan province

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Police in Maysan province have arrested a gang accused of stealing motorcycles in the city of Amara, the provincial police directorate said on Monday. The operation was carried out under the instructions of Maysan Police Director Major General Numan Mohammed Nima. In a written statement, the directorate said the Maysan Anti-Crime Unit's Hateen branch carried out a sudden security operation and detained the gang members. Investigators traced the suspects using information from a reliable source and monitored their movements for several days before moving in, the statement added. The suspects confessed to stealing a large number of motorcycles and selling them for cash, according to the police. They have been taken into custody and legal proceedings have been opened against them under Article 446 of the Iraqi Penal Code. The detainees were referred to the competent court, the directorate said.