Latest news with #AlaaAl-Qaisi
Shafaq News
02-07-2025
- Shafaq News
Iraq's Shalamcheh crossing bust: 2Kg gold seized
Shafaq News - Baghdad On Wednesday, Iraq's Border Ports Authority foiled an attempt to smuggle gold through the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran. Alaa Al-Qaisi, the authority's spokesman, informed Shafaq News that a force from the Shalamcheh Directorate apprehended a foreign traveler carrying more than 2 kilograms of gold, attempting to smuggle it out of Iraq. The suspect and the confiscated gold were then handed over to the Shalamcheh Customs Police Center for further legal proceedings. Located in southeastern Iraq's Basra province, the Shalamcheh border crossing serves as a vital international transit point connecting Iraq with Iran. It facilitates commercial trade, religious pilgrimage, and passenger travel between the two countries. The crossing remains a key focus of security operations, with Iraqi authorities maintaining strict surveillance to prevent smuggling, drug trafficking, and other illicit activities.
Shafaq News
29-06-2025
- Shafaq News
+1 kg of crystal meth seized at Iraq-Iran border
Shafaq News – Basra Iraq's Border Ports Authority foiled an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of narcotics into the country through a crossing in Basra province, an official revealed on Saturday. Authority spokesperson Alaa Al-Qaisi told Shafaq News that officers at the Shalamcheh border crossing apprehended a foreign traveler carrying 1.4 kilograms of crystal meth concealed inside metal containers in a bid to bring the drugs into Iraq. The suspect was referred along with the seized materials to the Directorate of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances for legal action, and an official report was filed. The Shalamcheh border crossing is a key international transit point located in southeastern Iraq's Basra province, connecting the country with Iran. It serves as a major gateway for commercial trade, religious pilgrimage, and passenger traffic between the two nations. The crossing is also a focal point for security operations, as it is frequently monitored by Iraqi authorities to prevent smuggling, drug trafficking, and other illicit activities. Iraq lies on key trafficking routes connecting Southwest Asia, the Gulf, and Europe. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has raised concerns about the country's increasing role as a transit point for substances like Captagon and methamphetamine.
Shafaq News
30-04-2025
- Shafaq News
Iraq moves dangerous chemicals from southern port
Shafaq News/ Iraq seized two containers holding hazardous chemicals, Border Ports Authority announced on Wednesday. The authority's spokesperson, Alaa Al-Qaisi, told Shafaq News that the containers were being transferred to a secure holding area in Al-Haddama, near Umm Qasr in southern Basra province. He affirmed the operation was a 'precautionary measure' to remove dual-use chemical substances—classified under maritime hazardous materials codes—away from populated areas. 'Work is ongoing to relocate new shipments with a high-risk classification, specifically those marked as hazard class 2.1,' he noted, adding that containers deemed lower-risk will be moved to designated storage yards under strict supervision and standard safety measures. Al-Qaisi also pointed out that the committee overseeing chemical containers has stressed the need for improved safety procedures in Iraqi ports and the enforcement of environmental and customs regulations. The discovery of these containers has drawn comparisons to previous deadly incidents, including the recent explosion at Iran's Shahid Rajaee port and the 2020 Beirut port blast.
