The Iraqi Border Ports Authority announced today, Saturday, the seizure of 53 vehicles that violated import regulations and the prevention of waste of public funds exceeding one billion dinars at the Umm Qasr Port. The authority indicated in a statement that "out of its commitment to monitoring and tightening control over the true tax collection process, the management of the Umm Qasr Port was able to seize 53 four-wheel-drive vehicles of the 2024 model (Land Rover Defender, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar, Range Rover Autobiography, Range Rover). These vehicles were prepared for departure in violation of the law by evading the required customs duties."
It added, "Through inspection and verification, it was found that there was manipulation and distortion regarding the customs fees of the vehicles, as the customs transaction for the vehicles was completed as if they were hybrids operating on electric power to evade paying the duties. After testing them, it was determined that they only operated on fuel and did not have an energy outlet or an auxiliary electric engine, which led to this manipulation being a waste of public funds amounting to (1,147,290,900) one billion, one hundred and forty-seven million, two hundred and ninety thousand, nine hundred Iraqi dinars."
The statement pointed out that "an official seizure report was organized, and the vehicles were referred to the Umm Qasr Customs Police for appropriate legal measures against the negligent parties." It noted that "this file will be audited retroactively to review all imported vehicles and to verify their legal status regarding whether they are electric or not."
