BAGHDAD –INA
Federal Intelligence and Investigations Agency FIIA announced on Thursday the dismantling of three criminal networks in Baghdad involved in usurious lending, antiquities smuggling, and vehicle document forgery.
In a statement, the agency said operatives from the Organized Crime Directorate in Baghdad’s Rusafa district, acting on precise intelligence, carried out an operation that led to the seizure of an outlet engaged in illegal high-interest lending through Mastercard transactions.
The agency said officers confiscated local and foreign currency being used in the unlawful activity and arrested the owner of the outlet.
In a separate operation, intelligence personnel seized a collection of antiquities that had allegedly been prepared for smuggling and arrested the individual found in possession of the artifacts.
In a third operation, the directorate uncovered a site used to forge vehicle license plates, registration documents, and powers of attorney, arresting the operator of the facility.
According to the statement, all three suspects confessed during questioning, and their statements were subsequently validated by the competent judicial authorities.
The agency urged citizens to avoid dealing with unlicensed offices and outlets that exploit financial hardship by offering illegal usurious loans, warning against handing over bank cards or credit cards to untrusted parties in order to protect personal data and financial assets.
It also advised the public to carefully verify official documents and powers of attorney when buying or selling vehicles to avoid falling victim to forgery networks.
The agency stressed that public cooperation with intelligence and security services remains a cornerstone of efforts to safeguard society and protect Iraq’s historical heritage from theft and smuggling.
