Iraq recovers $20 million, 60kg of gold in widening oil corruption case

Dubai: Iraqi authorities have recovered over $20 million in cash, 60kg of gold and seven vehicles as part of a widening corruption investigation targeting Deputy Oil Minister for Refining Affairs Adnan Al Jumaili, according to the judiciary. The latest seizure, coordinated with authorities in the Kurdistan Region, totaled $20.34 million, 200 million Iraqi dinars and the gold, reported the judiciary.

This is the most recent in a series of substantial asset recoveries since the investigation intensified. In July, authorities recovered 358kg of gold and 14 billion dinars in a related case; the gold was handed over to the Central Bank of Iraq. Earlier this month, the judiciary stated that the total cash recovered in the Al Jumaili investigation reached 127 billion Iraqi dinars and $24 million, with some of the funds hidden in plastic water bottles at Al Jumaili's home in Tikrit.

The investigation, launched in October 2025, has uncovered money in various unusual hiding places, including a pit for rainwater drainage and concealed cash within house walls. The Supreme Judicial Council has confirmed the investigation is ongoing, with legal action expected against additional individuals if further evidence supports it.