Iraqi Parliament Launches Inquiry into Illegal Oil Trafficking to Afghanistan

The Iraqi Parliament has formed a special committee to investigate the illegal oil trafficking to Afghanistan. This committee will examine the details of the illicit oil transfers and present a final report to the Parliament’s leadership.

Special Committee Established to Investigate Oil Trafficking

The Iraqi Parliament has created a special committee to conduct an inquiry into the organized smuggling of oil from the oil fields in Kirkuk and the Kurdistan region to Afghanistan. This decision was made during an emergency meeting chaired by Mohammed al-Halbousi, the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament.

Review of Intelligence Documents and Reports

According to a statement from the Parliament’s media office, the committee is tasked with examining intelligence documents and reports related to the oil smuggling networks in the Jurf al-Nasr region and the illegal transfer routes to Afghanistan. Reports indicate that oil shipments from the Kirkuk and Sulaymaniyah fields are being illegally moved to Iran, where they are rebranded and then sent to markets in Afghanistan.

Concerns Over Security Agencies’ Negligence

Mr. al-Halbousi has expressed concern regarding the negligence of security agencies and the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, issuing an order to form a temporary fact-finding committee headed by the Chairman of the Security and Defense Commission of Parliament. This committee will include heads of key commissions such as Anti-Corruption, Legal, Financial, and Oil and Gas to address the legal and financial aspects of the case.

Summoning Officials and Gathering Evidence

The parliamentary committee is required to summon security and oil officials, cross-reference intelligence documents and satellite images, and provide a comprehensive final report to the Parliament’s leadership as soon as possible. Additionally, it will also investigate the security implications of the recent attack on the Khurmour gas facilities in the Kurdistan region.