TURKEY: 35 CUSTOMS OFFICIALS AT IRAQ BORDER ARRESTED

Istanbul, 28 June (AKI) - Turkish para-military police on Wednesday arrested 35 customs officials in a raid at the Habur border post on Turkey's frontier with Iraq. The officials have been charged with bribery and oil smuggling. Prosecutors of Silopi, the border town, ordered the arrests after truck drivers who regularly cross the border with Iraq bringing over supplies of oil, accused the customs officials of illegally confiscating the fuel. The officials are suspected of selling the seized oil in nearby towns and of pocketing the money.

In a similar case last month, 58 customs officials working at the Turkish-Bulgarian border were sentenced to prison for bribery and smuggling.

Authorities say they will introduce automated control systems at border posts in an effort to curb corruption and theft by officials.