Baghdad – IA
The Ministry of the Interior confirmed, on Tuesday, coordination with Arab and international police to recover wanted Iraqis, while stressing that the western and southern Iraqi borders are completely fortified to prevent cases of infiltration and smuggling.
Interior Ministry spokesman Brigadier General Miqdad Miri told the (INA): “The security services continue to follow up and prosecute wanted persons and outlaws, whether in criminal or terrorist cases, in implementation of judicial orders.”
He added, “The prosecution process includes wanted persons at home and abroad, and there is an international coordination department with the Arab police as well as the international police (Interpol). We have agreements with countries to extradite wanted persons, arrest warrants are executed, and wanted persons are recovered.”
Regarding securing the borders, Merry explained, “With regard to fortifying the Iraqi borders, we have 3,719 kilometers surrounded by six countries, and the most important challenge is the border with Syria, which is 654 kilometers long, of which 350 kilometers are not under official control but are subject to armed groups, and there is a presence of ISIS on the side.” “There are prisons and headquarters in Syria.”
He stated, “The Iraqi government, represented by the security ministries, including the Ministry of Interior, worked to fortify these borders, as a slit trench was dug three meters deep and three meters wide, in addition to an earthen berm three meters high, and balloon beams were erected.”
He continued, “A concrete wall was added starting from the north of the Euphrates River towards Mount Sinjar and the border with the Syrian Republic, in addition to sectors located behind this wall. It was reinforced with thermal cameras to detect any infiltration attempts, and this work as a whole resulted in a significant decline in smuggling and infiltration operations.”
He added, “As for the southern and southeastern borders, 200 thermal cameras have begun to be installed, and 464 cameras have been added along the border, which are fully fortified and secured. Likewise, the bodies of water in the Shatt al-Arab have been fortified and well secured to prevent cases of infiltration and smuggling.”