UPI, 21 Nov 2016
Military equipment worth millions of dollars was recently stolen by an unknown armed group from an airbase south of Baghdad in Basra, Iraq's third-largest city.
Similar incidents have been frequently reported but the identity of the groups, whose members often wear official security uniforms, is generally unknown.
"Nothing is easier in Iraq than establishing an armed group or a gang," said Yahya Ali, an Iraqi security expert. "The different uniforms of Iraq's military and security forces, as well as other related items, are being sold in major cities, including Baghdad."
Ali said he bought a special forces uniform at a shop. "I paid 20,000 Iraqi dinars [about $15] for it and the seller did not ask for any ID confirming that I'm an army officer," he said.
That shop, he said, sells different styles of military and security uniforms, bulletproof vests, helmets, stun guns, night-vision goggles and black masks. Once bought, the gear is often transported via tinted-glass, four-wheel-drive vehicles, which are often not stopped at security checkpoints as they are assumed to belong to the security services, Ali said.
Criminal groups can readily find weapons and uniforms displayed on social media platforms, including Facebook.
Police say they are cracking down on many of the groups but others remain elusive. "Dozens were arrested but the groups have their own networks to continue the highly profitable trade," said a police officer speaking on condition of anonymity. "The buyers and sellers contact each other through passwords to avoid police raids."
Ali said arms dealers find it easier to sell weapons in the virtual world. Buyers can simply search for souk al-silah (weapons market) to find scores of Facebook pages dedicated to selling arms in Iraq, he said.
"Our customers are those who want arms to defend themselves," reads one of the headings.
Some Facebook posts promise that the arms deal would not attract police attention, providing a mobile phone number to contact. Others require would-be purchasers to sign up with certain groups.
A man who identified himself as Abu Hassan said he bought an automatic weapon from one of the pages. "I collect antiques. I bought a second-hand gun. The dealer asked $600 but I bought it for $400," he said.
Another man, who gave his name as Abu Samir, said he bought ammunition. "I work at a private security company and we were in urgent need of ammunition. We could not wait to receive it in the proper channels, as it takes a lot of time, so we got it from Facebook, which is quicker," he said.
Abu Samir said the dealers did not ask him about his work. "Anyone can buy weapons, ammunition or military equipment without any questions," he said.
Dealers say the prices in the virtual world are the same as in traditional arms markets. Facebook has banned many of these pages, especially after the rise of the Islamic State, but many remain active.
"Iraq's Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Communications are coordinating to follow such pages and shut them down," said Aziz Makki, an Iraqi blogger who tracks Iraqi social media. "Many pages were closed but every day we find new ones up."
No comments yet.
- UKRAINE ABDUCTED TWO SOLDIERS FROM CRIMEA, SAYS RUSSIA Europe - EU 22.11.2016
- COUNTRIES OF TURKIC-ISLAMIC WORLD SHOULD SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER The Caucasus and Turkish-Armenian Relations 22.11.2016
- AZERBAIJAN TO DEVELOP MORE AFTER LIBERATION OF ITS TERRITORIES The Caucasus and Turkish-Armenian Relations 22.11.2016
-
SERBIAN, HUNGARIAN PMS ON TIES, COOPERATION, MIGRATIONS The Balkans 22.11.2016
- UZBEKISTAN: TURKISH LEADER’S VISIT SPARKS NEW HOPES Asia - Pacific 22.11.2016
-
THE ARMENIAN QUESTION - BASIC KNOWLEDGE AND DOCUMENTATION -
THE TRUTH WILL OUT -
RADİKAL ERMENİ UNSURLARCA GERÇEKLEŞTİRİLEN MEZALİMLER VE VANDALİZM -
PATRIOTISM PERVERTED -
MEN ARE LIKE THAT -
BAKÜ-TİFLİS-CEYHAN BORU HATTININ YAŞANAN TARİHİ -
INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARS ON THE EVENTS OF 1915 -
FAKE PHOTOS AND THE ARMENIAN PROPAGANDA -
ERMENİ PROPAGANDASI VE SAHTE RESİMLER -
A Letter From Japan - Strategically Mum: The Silence of the Armenians -
Japonya'dan Bir Mektup - Stratejik Suskunluk: Ermenilerin Sessizliği -
Anastas Mikoyan: Confessions of an Armenian Bolshevik -
Sovyet Sonrası Ukrayna’da Devlet, Toplum ve Siyaset - Değişen Dinamikler, Dönüşen Kimlikler -
Ermeni Sorunuyla İlgili İngiliz Belgeleri (1912-1923) - British Documents on Armenian Question (1912-1923) -
Turkish-Russian Academics: A Historical Study on the Caucasus -
Gürcistan'daki Müslüman Topluluklar: Azınlık Hakları, Kimlik, Siyaset -
Armenian Diaspora: Diaspora, State and the Imagination of the Republic of Armenia -
ERMENİ SORUNU - TEMEL BİLGİ VE BELGELER (2. BASKI)
-
CONFERENCE TITLED “HUNGARY’S PERSPECTIVES ON THE TURKIC WORLD"