FIIA: Weapons and unauthorized money transfer office seized

INA-  BAGHDAD

The Federal Intelligence and Investigation Agency (FIIA) confirmed, on Wednesday, the seizure of weapons, an unauthorized money transfer office, and a warehouse containing materials that were entered without tax accounting in the provinces of Basra, Diyala, and Diwaniyah.

FIIA said in a statement obtained by the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that "in continuation of the efforts exerted by FIIA in combating organized crime in all its forms, its detachments specialized in combating organized crime in Basra province carried out a quality operation after it monitored information indicating the existence of a remittance office operating illegally where it conducts internal and external financial transfers."

The Agency added, "Immediately, a specialized task force was formed to verify the validity of the information and seize the office red-handed, arrest the owner and seize a large amount of foreign currency (dollars) and local amounts that are being traded in violation of the laws set by the concerned authorities, and more than (190) MasterCards were seized inside the office that are being disposed of illegally."

In another separate operation, "the Agency's detachments specialized in combating organized crime in Diwaniyah governorate managed to seize a warehouse containing various materials that were entered and possessed without going through the tax accounting procedures, where all materials were seized and legal procedures were taken."

In another operation carried out by our detachments specialized in combating organized crime in Diyala, it indicated that "based on accurate intelligence information and field follow-up enabled it to arrest a suspect who trades in weapons of various types and forms," indicating that "the criminal was caught in the act and the weapons in his possession were seized."

“The statements of the three suspects were taken down and they were referred to the competent investigative authorities to receive their just punishment,” FIIA said, stressing that “these operations were carried out after obtaining the proper judicial approvals.”