US firm ignored smuggling, security risks in major Iraq air base
WASHINGTON, DC, United States (Kurdistan24) – An American company which was paid nearly USD $700 million to secure an Iraqi base for F-16 fighters jets is under investigation for misconduct.
According to an AP investigation, Sallyport Global ignored serious violations taking place under its watch and fired investigators who uncovered wrongdoing.
Two former internal investigators and a half-dozen former or current Sallyport staff provided documents and testimony on alcohol smuggling, theft, security violations, and allegations of sex trafficking at the Balad Air Base in Iraq.
The schemes were major contract violations and some violations, if proven, were strictly illegal.
The fired investigators claim the evidence uncovered shows Sallyport employees were involved in human trafficking for prostitution and staff routinely smuggled alcohol onto the base. According to investigative documents and witnesses, the alcohol would come from Baghdad.
Security risks involved falsified manifests for hiding alcohol and guns.
The lack of proper security even allowed a rogue militia to steal enormous generators using flatbed trucks and a crane.
Investigators and ex-employees say the US government was not aware of the violations.
The news came to light after an auditor began asking questions earlier this year on the $686 million contract.
The investigators were fired without notice on March 12 and immediately flown out of Iraq. They were examining fraud allegations and believed they were removed “because they knew too much.”
In a statement to the AP, Sallyport said it follows all contracting rules at the base, home to a squadron of F-16s indispensable to the US-led coalition’s operations against the Islamic State (IS).
“The company takes any suggestion of wrongdoing at Balad very seriously,” Chief Operating Officer Matt Stuckart wrote.
Balad is controlled by the Iraqi government. Americans have been there on and off since 2003.
The base was evacuated in June 2014 when IS began overrunning Iraqi territory.
It is located in the Sunni Triangle, 64 kilometers north of Baghdad.
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany