Crude oil from northern Iraq smuggled to Iran, Afghanistan

Iraqi oil tanker trucks stationed in Iran. Photo: Sky New screen grab Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Crude oil and major petroleum products are being smuggled from the Kirkuk and Sulaymaniyah fields into Iran via the Bashmaq and Parviz Khan border crossings, according to an Iraqi intelligence investigation. After being mixed and repackaged to avoid international sanctions, the illicit oil eventually finds its way to markets in Afghanistan and Iran. According to intelligence findings reported by Al Arabiya News, the network uses what investigators call the “eastern route.” Operators use official papers to secure oil quotas assigned to areas in Sulaymaniyah before diverting some of the supply to smuggling networks. Crude oil and main derivatives are transported to the Iranian border by small and medium-sized tanker trucks. The supplies enter Iran through Iraqi Kurdistan’s Bashmaq and Parviz Khan border crossings. The smuggled Iraqi oil is processed and combined with Iranian petroleum products at small refineries once it enters Iran. The mixed gasoline is sold under false origin certificates to get over international restrictions, with Afghanistan being the main destination for the re-exported products. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi established a multi-agency investigating group to confront larger oil smuggling networks. Iraq’s Federal Commission of Integrity opened an investigation targeting the oil smuggling network.