Recently, social media in Iraq has been abuzz with news of the arrest by Babylon police of individuals who specialized in stealing donkeys, slaughtering them, and selling their meat to a restaurant in the center of Hilla city. The Babylon Police Command issued a statement yesterday, outlining the details of the case, confirming that some of the detained suspects confessed to the crime.
The statement continued: "Upon further investigation, it was discovered that eight individuals were involved in the case, three of whom have been arrested, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining five by security forces."
The statement added, "According to the suspects’ confessions, they were stealing donkeys from villages and areas in the Sada district, then slaughtering them and selling the meat to Al-Mashwar restaurant located at the Al-Thawra intersection in the center of the city."
It also mentioned that "the investigating judge has decided to form a committee from the Health Control Department, the Organized Crime Directorate, the Veterinary Department, the Environment Department, and the Babylon Police Command. This was carried out, and samples of the restaurant's meat were taken for testing, but results have not yet been received."
The statement confirmed that "the Babylon Police Command will keep citizens informed of any updates once the investigations are complete." The police emphasized in their statement that "this case represents serious threats to public health, as donkey meat can cause many dangerous diseases, such as food poisoning and viral infections."
