BAGHDAD — American investigators say Iraqi auditors believe as much as $800 million in U.S. currency is being sent out of the country illegally each week.
A report by the U.S. Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction released on Tuesday says Iraq's top auditor, Abdul-Basit Turki, disclosed the findings about the extent of the alleged money laundering to American officials last month.
The finding follows a recent probe by Iraq's Board of Supreme Audit into the country's central bank and daily auctions it holds to exchange Iraqi dinars for dollars.
BSA president Turki was recently named interim head of the central bank after authorities removed the bank's longtime governor amid an investigation into alleged financial wrongdoing.
BSA spokesman Imad Ismail had no immediate details about the audit.
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