• Tuesday, 14 July 2026
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Iraq Recovers 375 Kilograms of Gold in Major Anti-Corruption Investigation

Gulan Media July 13, 2026 News
Iraq Recovers 375 Kilograms of Gold in Major Anti-Corruption Investigation

Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council announced on Monday that authorities have recovered 375 kilograms of gold linked to an expanding corruption investigation involving former Oil Ministry Undersecretary Adnan al-Jumaili, marking one of the largest asset recovery operations in the country's ongoing anti-corruption campaign.

The council said the operation was carried out in close coordination with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and under the direct supervision of Supreme Judicial Council President Judge Faiq Zidan, highlighting increasing cooperation between Baghdad and Erbil in pursuing corruption suspects and recovering public assets.

According to an investigative judge from the Central Anti-Corruption Criminal Court, authorities recovered 358 kilograms of gold through coordinated efforts with the Kurdistan Region. An additional 17 kilograms were seized in a related investigation, bringing the total amount recovered during Monday's operation to 375 kilograms.

The recovered gold has been transferred to the Issue and Vaults Department of the Central Bank of Iraq, where it will remain under official custody as judicial proceedings continue.

The latest seizure significantly broadens the corruption case surrounding al-Jumaili, the former undersecretary for refining affairs at Iraq's Oil Ministry, whose arrest earlier this year triggered an extensive investigation into alleged corruption networks involving senior political and government figures.

Judicial authorities have previously announced the recovery of 127 billion Iraqi dinars, $24 million in cash, luxury vehicles, real estate, and additional gold assets allegedly connected to the case.

Officials said the investigation widened after information obtained during al-Jumaili's interrogation, leading prosecutors to pursue cases involving members of parliament, political party leaders, and government officials suspected of involvement. Authorities stressed that all allegations remain under judicial investigation and have not yet been proven in court.

The latest recovery comes amid Iraq's broader nationwide anti-corruption campaign, which combines judicial investigations, financial asset recovery, and security operations.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has described the current effort as only the "first stage" of a wider campaign aimed at dismantling entrenched corruption networks, pledging that no individual or institution would be beyond the reach of the law.

In late June, Iraq's Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) carried out a high-profile operation inside Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, executing judicial warrants against senior officials and political figures as part of the expanding investigation linked to the al-Jumaili case.

Security officials confirmed that the arrests were conducted under judicial authorization, underscoring the legal framework governing the operation.

Cooperation Between Baghdad and Erbil

Monday's announcement also highlighted growing cooperation between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government in combating corruption.

Recent coordination has included the transfer of suspects wanted under federal arrest warrants and joint efforts to trace and recover assets linked to ongoing investigations. Officials said such cooperation is essential to preventing suspects from exploiting jurisdictional boundaries and strengthening nationwide enforcement.

The Ministry of Finance has clarified that its role is limited to protecting the state treasury through the recovery of stolen public assets, while criminal investigations, prosecutions, court proceedings, sentencing, and clemency decisions remain exclusively under the authority of Iraq's judiciary.

Officials say the recovery of 375 kilograms of gold represents another significant milestone in Iraq's efforts to recover misappropriated state assets, reinforce accountability, and restore public confidence in state institutions.

The Supreme Judicial Council emphasized that investigations remain ongoing and that all individuals under investigation are entitled to due legal process until any allegations are proven before the courts.

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