The anti-crime detachments of the Nineveh Police Command arrested two suspects in flagrante delicto during a precise security operation targeting the illegal handover and receipt of mercury. The operation resulted in the seizure of 21 containers of this material, which is subject to strict environmental and security oversight.
A statement issued by the Nineveh Police Command explained that the operation was carried out based on instructions from the Police Commander, Major General Legal Falah Mohammed Amash Al-Jarba, and under the direct supervision of the Director of Anti-Crime, Brigadier General Mohammed Talal. The action followed the acquisition of due judicial approvals, with detachments apprehending the suspects on-site in possession of 5 containers of mercury, before proceeding to search the home of one of the suspects, where an additional 16 containers were seized.
The security authorities confirmed that proper legal procedures have been taken against the suspects, who have been referred to the judicial authorities in accordance with the provisions of Article (35), in conjunction with Article (20,Paragraph Third) of the Law on the Protection and Improvement of the Environment No. (27) of 2009.
Legal Dimension and Legislative Compliance
This operation comes within the framework of enforcing strict Iraqi environmental legislation prohibiting the handling and circulation of chemical and hazardous materials without obtaining official approvals and licenses. The provisions of the Law on the Protection and Improvement of the Environment No. 27 of 2009 stipulate the imposition of severe penal sanctions and legal liabilities for unauthorized dealings with materials that affect public safety and the environment.
Such cases highlight the importance of regulatory compliance and the need for institutions and companies to obtain precise legal consultations prior to handling, transporting, or importing specialized materials subject to government oversight, in order to avoid falling under the weight of criminal and financial accountability.
