Shafaq News- Kirkuk
Security forces in north-central Iraq’s Kirkuk provinceseized 163 vehicles transporting smuggled goods without paying customs dutiesover the past 45 days, Kirkuk Operations Commander Maj. Gen. Maad Badayrevealed on Saturday.
Baday told Shafaq News the vehicles were interceptedon unofficial smuggling routes before being handed over to the relevantauthorities, saying the operation forms part of the province’s anti-smugglingand anti-corruption drive.
Addressing a video presented by MP Othman Al-Shaibaniduring a recent parliamentary session, Baday explained that it referred tocorruption cases dating back to before his appointment. The suspects, officersfrom the Kirkuk Police Command, admitted exploiting their positions tofacilitate smuggling through the Darman and Jiman checkpoints north of Kirkuk,which are overseen by the Border Crossings Authority and the National SecurityService alongside other security agencies.
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Launched on June 28, the ongoing nationwide anti-corruptioncampaign Dawn Crackdown (Sawlat Al-Fajr) has targeted more than 70 current andformer officials, lawmakers, and business figures. Its next phase will focus oncases linked to the health, oil, and electricity ministries while expanding effortsto trace assets inside and outside Iraq.
A Shafaq News review found that, in addition to thosearrests, Iraqi authorities detained at least 35 public officials and employeesin six separate cases between July 12 and July 19.
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