Baghdad: The Iraqi National Security Service (INSS) announced the successful dismantling of forgery and financial corruption networks, alongside the arrest of a gang operating in Baghdad.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the INSS conducted multiple operations that led to the disruption of criminal networks engaged in forgery and financial corruption, which targeted citizens’ funds through fraudulent activities. The operations were executed based on precise intelligence and judicial orders under Articles (289) and (298) of the Penal Code.

In Baghdad’s Mansour district, INSS detachments set up an ambush that resulted in the apprehension of a gang specializing in forgery. Four suspects were caught in the act, possessing forged documents, real estate statements under various names, general and special powers of attorney, and seals with multiple names, including a fake seal from the Land Registry. They also held applications directed to government ministries for fictitious exemptions, counterfeit ID cards from government institutions, and an unregistered vehicle.

The investigation revealed other accomplices within the network, leading to a second operation where three more suspects were arrested, along with additional forged documents.

The operations extended to Basra, where a government employee was caught forging a national identity card by placing his photograph on another’s card to fraudulently claim social benefits worth 10 million dinars.

In Diwaniyah, another network trading in illegal bank checks was dismantled. The network sold each check for 1.5 million Iraqi dinars in a scheme to defraud citizens. Two suspects were arrested, and several blank checks were seized.

All suspects and items seized were handed over to the judicial authorities for legal proceedings.