After thwarting a smuggling operation, Ports Authority provided 3 billion dinars to the state budget

Baghdad - INA

The Border Ports Authority announced, on Tuesday, that it has provided the state budget with more than 3 billion dinars after thwarting a major smuggling operation of electronic devices in the northern Umm Qasr port.

The authority said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), "Earlier, the Border Ports Authority at the northern Umm Qasr port seized a large number of smuggling devices (mobile phones), iPads, electronic devices and computers."

He added, "The devices were hidden inside 8 containers that were labeled as various cheap materials and for a very small fee of only 2 million and 830 thousand Iraqi dinars. After taking legal measures by the Presidency of the Basra Court of Appeal, the materials were sold by a judicial decision (sales deal) for an amount of (3 billion and 175) million Iraqi dinars, which is the final revenue for the state treasury.".

It continued, "These measures come from the directives of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to maximize revenues and prevent waste of public money. The authority continues its operations in cooperation with the public departments at the border ports in order to implement the government program that emphasises combating corruption, preventing smuggling operations and controlling the ports. 

It also continues with a strong will to maintain the repeated government successes and develop electronic control and auditing procedures at all ports."