Press release

---

Some social media broadcast a video clip showing some categories of the Iraqi currency in boxes marked with the name of the Central Bank of Iraq, which provoked a turmoil on smuggling of the Iraqi currency. While the bank denies any smuggling operation, it would like to state the following:

 

1. The showed boxes do not belong to the Central Bank, and different from the Iraqi currency boxes, in terms of shape, color, material and size.
2. The Central Bank followed up with the security authorities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassies of the countries mentioned in the video clip. Note that there are previous cases proved by investigation and the security services completely not correct.
3. So far, these papers have not been found and have not been publicly displayed in any country, and the current investigations have proved to be only pictures and films.
4. The central bank prints its currency in the global printing houses, and monitors its production, from the paper making to the final version, according to tables and serial numbers to check every stage until it is received in Iraq.
5. We warn of the confusion that is taking place with the aim of undermining the country and its successful institutions, including the Central Bank. The sooner one of these institutions succeeds domestically and internationally, the more they come under such slander. The attack comes in line with the announcement of the bank's growth of reserves and control of the exchange rate, in order to reduce this success.

 

Finally, the central bank calls on all media to be careful in dealing with the news, because inaccurate news has negative effects on the stability of the banking and financial system in Iraq.

 

Central Bank of Iraq

Baghdad, 19 July 2019