The Prime Minister, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ali Fadhil Al-Zaydi, chaired an emergency security meeting today, Saturday, dedicated to reviewing the results of the report from the committee assigned to investigate the oil smuggling file in the Jurf Al-Nasr area of Babil Governorate.
A government statement said, "The committee presented its report and the results of the investigations it reached, confirming the validity of the information contained in the report from the Federal Intelligence and Investigations Agency regarding oil smuggling operations, and the existence of oil refineries, in addition to monitoring cases of manipulation in this file.
It added, "In light of the investigation results, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces directed that all accused individuals involved in oil smuggling operations be referred to the judiciary, and legal actions be taken against them. It was also decided to relieve the following individuals:
Babil Police Chief.
Director of Northern Babil Police.
Director of Intelligence and Counterterrorism in Babil at the Ministry of Interior.
Director of National Security in Babil.
Director of Babil Intelligence and Security at the Ministry of Defense.
Babil Intelligence Director.
Babil Popular Mobilization Forces Commander.
Commander of the Sixth Brigade of Energy Police in the Ministry of Interior.
Director of the Oil Pipeline Company at the Ministry of Oil.
The statement continued, "The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces directed that the operation leaders and police commanders in the governorates, as well as directors of security and intelligence agencies, bear full responsibility for any cases of oil smuggling occurring within their areas of responsibility, emphasizing the need to tighten monitoring and security measures to prevent these practices and to hold accountable those who fall short, and that no inch in Iraq will remain where smuggling is practiced, from Zakho to Basra.
The Prime Minister praised, in his speech during the meeting, the efforts of the investigative committee in uncovering those involved in the theft of public funds, defining the scope of responsibility, identifying those negligent and involved in the crime of oil smuggling, and pursuing them according to the law.
He confirmed that the government is committed to protecting public funds, firmly confronting oil smuggling operations, and thwarting all attempts to tamper with the national wealth throughout Iraq, stressing that the security and administrative responsibility requires preventing these crimes and holding accountable anyone found negligent or involved in them.