News / Turkey

Most of oil smuggled by Daesh goes to Turkey: Report

Sunday, 20 December 2015 10:34 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 20 December 2015 11:00 AM ]

An undated frame grab taken from a video made available by the Russian Defense Ministry on December 2, 2015, shows the Turkish-Syrian border crossing with columns of tanker trucks purportedly loading oil at Daesh-controlled installations before entering Turkey. ©Reuters

A new report has revealed that most of the oil smuggled by Daesh Takfiri terrorist group from the areas under its control goes to Turkey, where it is sold off at low prices.

The report, whose details were leaked recently by the Norwegian daily Klassekampen, was ordered by the Norwegian Foreign Ministry and compiled by the Oslo-based Rystad Energy, an independent oil and gas consulting services and business intelligence data firm.

“Large amounts of oil have been smuggled across the border to Turkey from IS (Daesh)-controlled areas in Syria and Iraq,” the newspaper cited the report as saying, while adding, “[The] oil is sent by tankers via smuggling routes across the border [and] is sold at greatly reduced prices, from $25 to $45 a barrel.”

Rystad Energy used its own database as well as sources in the region to prepare the report, which is dated from July.

“Exports happen in a well-established black market via Turkey. Many of the smugglers and corrupt border guards, who helped [former Iraqi dictator] Saddam Hussein avoid international sanctions, are now helping IS (Daesh) export oil and import cash,” the report added.

On December 2, the Russian Defense Ministry said it is in possession of evidence that Turkey is involved in the illegal smuggling of oil from territories held by Daesh in Iraq and Syria. Ankara has, however, rejected the allegations.

An undated frame grab taken from a video made available by the Russian Defense Ministry on December 2, 2015, shows the Turkish-Syrian border crossing with columns of tanker trucks purportedly loading oil at Daesh-controlled installations before entering Turkey. ©Reuters

In November, Russian Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev said some Turkish officials have “direct financial interest” in the oil trade with Daesh.

“Turkey’s actions are de facto protection” of Daesh, said Medvedev, adding, “This is no surprise, considering the information we have about direct financial interest of some Turkish officials relating to the supply of oil products refined by plants controlled” by the Takfiri terror group.

Earlier this week, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted a resolution aimed at clogging up Daesh’s revenue stream.

The UNSC resolution, which earned the blessing of the 15-member council’s finance ministers, considered the Takfiri terrorist group to be posing as much threat as al-Qaeda, while threatening sanctions on parties buying oil from the terrorist group, and advising that countries resist its demands for ransom payments.

Daesh has seized parts of Iraq and Syria, where it carries out the bulk of its operations. It has been engaged in bloody acts of terrorism against people of all communities in the areas under its control.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk