Iraq foils smuggling of over 800 artifacts and arrests suspect in Baghdad
Iraq antiquities smuggling.. intelligence seizes 800 artifacts in Baghdad
Iraq’s Federal Intelligence and Investigations Agency announced on Sunday that it had foiled an attempt to smuggle a large shipment of antiquities and arrested a suspect in possession of them in Baghdad.
The agency said in a statement that its Organized Crime Directorate’s units in Al-Rusafa side caught, in flagrante delicto, more than 800 archaeological coins before they could be smuggled or traded outside legal frameworks.
It added that the suspect confessed during preliminary investigations to possessing the artifacts for the purpose of illegal trading.
The agency confirmed that its operations to pursue antiquities smuggling networks continue, as part of its efforts to protect Iraq’s cultural and civilizational heritage and prevent illicit trafficking of archaeological properties.
The operation comes within the framework of Iraqi security efforts to combat antiquities smuggling and preserve historical pieces that represent part of the country’s civilizational heritage.
More than 800 artifacts were about to enter Iraq.. the smugglers are now in the hands of intelligence pic.twitter.com/ig6nM2bs34
— Al-Sabiea (@alsaabiea) August 16, 2026
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