A joint security operation in Iraq led to the arrest of members of a money laundering network operating between Baghdad and Beirut, the Central Judicial Investigation Office in Baghdad said on Tuesday (May 2nd).

"Acting on information provided to the Intelligence Agency about individuals working for a dangerous mafia that specialises in counterfeiting currencies and money laundering in Baghdad, we launched a security operation that led to the arrest of a number of the network's members," the office said in a statement.

"We have identified the network's members, including a woman and her daughter who were arrested at Baghdad International Airport as they returned from Beirut with 100 million Iraqi dinars [$85,500] in their possession," the statement said.

The suspects admitted to sending and receiving money between Baghdad and Beirut, either by air or land through Syria.

"The confessions of the 25 defendants have been confirmed, and their files have been referred to court so they receive just punishment," the statement said.