Half-billion former Iraqi dinar seized at Umr Qasr

Turks.U.S. ^ | 12/08/03

[TexKat]

Iraqi police has seized half-billion of former dinnar banknotes in ship anchored at Umr Qasr port of Basra. In result of searching at the ship voyaging from Pakistan to UAE, the inspectors have captured the banknotes of former regime in trunk of one of 8 vehicles at the board.

Police chief Mohammed Qazim Ahmed Ali said that all packets full with banknotes have official seal of Pakistani Central Bank and the ship was still anchored at Umr Qasr port, adding that press member weren't allowed to take photos of it due to ongoing investigation.

"Iraq's intelligence service is keeping the investigation. We found out the 8 vehicles in the Pakistani flagged ship named "Nur" belong to an Iraqi tradesman," the police chief told to reporters.

Meanwhile, local council's member and head of security committee Sheikh Hassan Kahtani came to scene and claimed, "those banknotes are valuable only in Iraq. So, I think that Pakistanis sent them into Iraq to provide financial support for militants of Al- Qaide and other terrorist organizations." It is reported also there were writings on banknotes in both English and Urdu.

[TexKat]

Iraqi policeman stands over a case packed with old Iraqi dinars in the southern city of Basra, some 600 km of Baghdad, December 8, 2003. Iraqi police captured a Pakistani ship carrying imported vehicles packed with around half a billion Iraqi dinars (US $125,000). REUTERS/Atef Hassan

Stacks of old Iraqi dinars portraying ousted leader Saddam Hussein lay in the port of Basra, Iraq, Monday, Dec. 8, 2003. Iraqi police siezed a Pakistan vessel carrying seven imported vehicles packed with almost half a billion Iraqi dinars (US $125,000). Old Iraqi dinars will be replaced in full with new notes by Jan. 15, 2004. (AP Photo/Nabil Aljurani)

[eastforker]

Reminds me of when I was in Korea and we changed from script to greenbacks.We had an alert at 3 am to get everyone on post.We thought we where fixin to bug out.Instead we had to change out all our MPC for greenbacks. The Mamasans in the village was throwing sacks of the script over the fence to get it exchanged since it would be absolutely worthless.

[Theo]

Is that million or billion? Sounds like a lot of money in either case....

[No Blue States]

Isnt there a deadline by which time anyone who wants to trade Saddam dinars into the new Iraqi Saddam-less dinars has to meet or the old money becomes obsolete?

I bet some bad terrorist money is quickly becoming worthless.

You can Still get the Saddam dinars on ebay right now, as a collectable and momento of good over evil.

Ive got several. Some of the cheaper ones as stocking stuffers.

[Dog]

TK ...is it a billion or million??

[Dog]

Change the title.....a HALF A BILLION was seized.

[Dog]

I clicked on the source the orginial title states a HALF A BILLION dinars.

[oceanview]

burn this stuff. else I can see it showing up on the home shopping channel that sells all the "rare" coins.

[dead]

I bought $25,000 in mint Iraqi dinar on Ebay for $28 US, with a nice picture of Saddam on each bill.

(One hundred $250 dinar notes, that I plan to give away as gag Christmas presents.)

[Dog]

HALF A BILLION is alot of money....even in Iraqi Dinars....this came from the Central Bank of Pakistan.....someone very high up ordered this money moved.

Can you say Saddam..

[Dog Gone]

The money may have been destined for the terrorists, or it might simply have been an attempt to redeem Saddam dinars before they're declared completely worthless.

A half BILLION dinars sounds like a lot, but since that equates to only $125,000 US dollars, it's not quite as impressive.

[Blood of Tyrants]

About $28.50 in U.S. currency.

[No Blue States]

I bought some of the Saddam dinars on ebay to, the swiss ones look pretty good. Great collectable cheap.

I even bought 20,000 of the New Iraqi dinars in case the dinar ever approaches the pre 90 gulf war of 1 to 3 us dollars. Heck even 1 to 1 would be nice.

[Heyworth]

Worth $125,000.

[Dog]

It is 2,000 Dinars to one US dollar..

[No Blue States]

I wonder if these bills were even destined for ebay.

[TexKat]

Thanks Dog.

[FlyLow]

"Reminds me of when I was in Korea and we changed from script to greenbacks.We had an alert at 3 am to get everyone on post.We thought we where fixin to bug out.Instead we had to change out all our MPC for greenbacks. The Mamasans in the village was throwing sacks of the script over the fence to get it exchanged since it would be absolutely worthless."

---

Same in Vietnam. On the days the exchange was ordered, you could see MPC blowing in the wind along the streets when flying over Saigon or any larger city like Bien Hoa. It was a big laugh except for the locals who were foolish enough to accept MPC rather than piasters.