Iraq PM Orders Legal Action Against Oil Smuggling Suspects, Dismisses Nine Officials
Ali al-Zaidi removes senior security, intelligence and oil-sector officials after an investigation confirms smuggling operations and identifies illegal refineries in Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhar area
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on Saturday ordered the referral of all individuals implicated in oil smuggling in the Jurf al-Sakhar, also known as Jurf al-Nasr area of Babil province to the judiciary and dismissed nine senior security, intelligence and administrative officials following an investigation that confirmed the existence of smuggling operations and illegal oil refineries.
Al-Zaidi, who also serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, issued the directives during an emergency security meeting convened to review the findings of a government committee investigating oil smuggling in the area.
According to a statement from the commander-in-chief’s spokesperson, the committee presented its findings and confirmed the accuracy of information previously contained in a report by the Federal Intelligence and Investigations Agency.
The investigation identified oil-smuggling operations, the presence of oil refineries, and instances of manipulation in the sector.
Following the presentation, al-Zaidi ordered all suspects implicated in the operations to be referred to the judiciary and face legal proceedings.
He also dismissed nine officials, including the Babil police chief, the director of North Babil Police, the province’s director of intelligence and counterterrorism, and the head of the National Security Service in Babil.
The dismissed officials also included the director of intelligence and security in Babil at the Ministry of Defense, the provincial intelligence director, the commander of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Babil, the commander of the Sixth Energy Police Brigade, and the director of the Oil Pipelines Company.
Al-Zaidi further instructed operations commanders, provincial police chiefs, and security and intelligence agency directors to bear full responsibility for any oil-smuggling activities occurring within their jurisdictions.
He called for tighter security and oversight measures to prevent smuggling, stressing that officials found negligent or involved must be held accountable.
“No part of Iraq will remain a place where smuggling is practiced, from Zakho to Basra,” al-Zaidi said, according to the statement.
The prime minister praised the investigative committee for identifying those involved in the alleged theft of public funds, establishing lines of responsibility, and identifying officials who had failed in their duties or participated in the smuggling operations.
He reaffirmed the government's commitment to protecting public assets and confronting oil smuggling across Iraq, warning that anyone found responsible for involvement or negligence would face accountability under the law.
The investigation follows growing scrutiny of alleged oil-smuggling activities in Jurf al-Nasr, formerly known as Jurf al-Sakhar, south of Baghdad.
The area has remained under tight security restrictions since Iraqi forces recaptured it from the Islamic State in 2014, and has been a focus of concerns over the influence of armed factions and the government's limited access.
The latest government action marks a significant escalation in Baghdad's response to the allegations, extending accountability beyond suspected smugglers to senior security, intelligence and oil-sector officials responsible for oversight in the province.