Iraq takes action on illicit oil schemes

BASRA - The Iraqi government is taking measures to respond to alleged illicit oil sales following a U.S. sanctions enforcement action in late July that targeted a major fuel logistics provider.

The latest sign of Iraq's more aggressive posture was an Iraqi Navy action on Wednesday to seize a Liberian-flagged tanker in the Khor Abdullah channel. According to a statement by the General Company for Ports of Iraq (GCPI), the operation was thwarting "smugglers of oil derivatives"; a senior GCPI official said the tanker was carrying large volumes of fuel oil.