SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Kurdistan Region’s Asayish (security) forces were deployed to two main border crossings with Iran on Monday, following a decision by the deputy prime minister to further control the crossings.
Esta Media Network reporter in Garmian said more than 10 vehicles of the Asayish operations forces arrived in Parvez Khan border crossing on Sunday night.
The unit was stationed at the border crossing following a meeting with the officials in charge of the crossing, he added.
The force “is to prevent smuggling on the border crossings”, supervisor of Garmian administration Jalal Nuri told reporters.
“The operation will continue until all border crossings will be controled completely,” he said.
Meanwhile, another unit of Asayish forces in Sulaimani headed to Bashmakh border crossing on Monday morning.
A senior source with knowledge of the matter told Esta Media Network on Sunday that Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani had ordered the deployment of Asayish operations forces to the two border crossings to prevent smuggling.
The decision is part of measures taken by Talabani and Co-president of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Bafel Talabani to root out corruption and smuggling through Sulaimani airport and border crossings in Sulaimani province.
In July, six people were detained on smuggling charges at Bashmakh border crossing following decisions made by the deputy prime minister and co-president of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Bafel Talabani to end smuggling on the borders.
