MOI: Fortifying borders with neighboring countries reduced infiltration and smuggling

INA - BAGHDAD

The Ministry of the Interior confirmed, on Tuesday, coordination with Arab and international police to recover wanted Iraqis while stressing that the western and southern Iraqi borders are fully fortified to prevent attempts of infiltration and smuggling.

“The security services continue to follow up and prosecute wanted persons and outlaws, whether in criminal or terrorist cases, in implementation of judicial orders," said the Ministry of Interior spokesman Brigadier General Muqdad Miri to the Iraqi News Agency - INA.

He explained, "The prosecution process includes wanted persons at home and abroad, as there is an international coordination department with the Arab police as well as the international police - Interpol. We have agreements with countries to extradite wanted persons, arrest warrants are executed, and wanted persons are recovered."

Miri highlighted, “Regarding the issue of fortifying the Iraqi borders, we have 3719 km surrounded by six countries, and the most important challenge is the border with Syria, which is 654 km long, of which 350 km are not under official control but are subject to armed groups, as there is a presence of Daesh on the side as well as prisons and headquarters in Syria."

"The Iraqi government, represented by the security ministries, including the Ministry of Interior, worked to fortify these borders, as a slit trench was dug three meters deep and three meters wide, in addition to an earthen berm three meters high, and balloon beams were erected," he noted.

He pointed out, "A concrete wall was added starting from the north of the Euphrates River towards Mount Sinjar and the border with the Syrian Republic, in addition to sectors located behind this wall. It was reinforced with thermal cameras to detect any infiltration attempts, and this work as a whole resulted in a significant decline in smuggling and infiltration attempts."

"As for the southern and southeastern borders, 200 thermal cameras have begun to be installed, and 464 cameras have been added along the border, which are fully fortified and secured. Likewise, water bodies in Shatt al-Arab have been fortified and well secured to prevent cases of infiltration and smuggling as well," he included.