Iraq anti-corruption campaign continues to expose the scale of financial corruption across the country. A senior legal adviser to the Iraqi prime minister says more than $2 trillion disappeared from Iraq since 2003. Meanwhile, authorities continue expanding investigations and arrests across several provinces.
Prime Minister’s legal adviser Munir Haddad revealed the figure during remarks reported by the Iraqi News Agency. He explained that investigators continue questioning detained suspects every day. As a result, authorities keep identifying additional individuals linked to corruption cases.
Furthermore, Haddad said the number of suspects continues to rise as investigators uncover new evidence. He added that security forces work closely with judicial authorities throughout the ongoing investigations.
The Iraqi government launched the nationwide Iraq anti-corruption campaign, known as “Operation Dawn,” on Sunday. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered the operation to strengthen accountability and recover public assets.
Since the campaign began, Iraqi security forces have arrested several lawmakers and senior government officials. In addition, authorities recovered millions of dollars in cash, large amounts of gold, luxury vehicles, and valuable real estate.
Security forces started the operation after receiving judicial authorization. They targeted dozens of current and former government officials across multiple institutions. Moreover, investigators carried out overnight raids in Baghdad’s Green Zone while authorities lifted parliamentary immunity for several suspects.
Officials based many of the recent arrests on confessions gathered during the investigation of Adnan al-Jumaili, a former deputy oil minister accused of corruption. According to Haddad, those confessions revealed extensive details about wider corruption networks.
Consequently, investigators expanded their inquiries and arrested more suspects connected to the alleged schemes. Haddad stressed that authorities continue reviewing financial records and collecting additional evidence.
He also stated that several suspects attempted to flee Iraq. Others reportedly sought refuge in the Kurdistan Region. However, Haddad praised Kurdish authorities for cooperating with Baghdad. He confirmed that officials in the Kurdistan Region have already handed over eight suspects.
The investigations cover allegations of embezzlement as well as money laundering. Authorities believe many suspects used relatives and associates to conceal illegally acquired wealth.
Haddad described the recovered assets as extraordinary. For example, investigators discovered that the wife of one defendant purchased a house valued at $5 million. Additionally, authorities found that some suspects owned more than 50 properties registered under their names or those of family members.
Officials expect the operation to expand into several Iraqi provinces. At the same time, investigators continue searching for additional suspects and tracing missing public funds.
Haddad emphasized that authorities will not follow a fixed timetable. Instead, they will continue investigations until they complete every case. He also explained that officials maintain strict confidentiality throughout the operation. That approach aims to prevent wanted suspects from escaping before security forces reach them.
As the Iraq anti-corruption campaign moves forward, Iraqi authorities say they will continue pursuing suspects, recovering stolen assets, and expanding investigations across the country.
