ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The Office of Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Monday reaffirmed continued coordination between Erbil and Baghdad as part of the Iraqi government’s sweeping anti-corruption campaign, with a recent measure seeing over 350 kilograms of gold, confiscated during a related operation in the Region, delivered to Iraqi authorities.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's government launched a large-scale anti-graft campaign in late June, when security forces entered Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone and arrested scores of senior officials and lawmakers over alleged corruption and theft of public resources.

The campaign has targeted corruption suspects across the country, including Iraqi officials residing in the Kurdistan Region.

Barzani “has directed the Ministry of Interior and the institutions of the Kurdistan Region Security Council to work with the relevant federal government bodies to combat corruption and pursue those involved in corrupt practices,” the premier's office said in a statement.

Most recently, relevant authorities in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) “handed over 358 kilograms of confiscated gold to the Iraqi Federal Commission of Integrity,” the statement noted.

Earlier on Monday, the Iraqi judiciary said it had coordinated with Kurdistan Region authorities to retrieve a total of 375 kilograms of gold in the corruption case of Adnan al-Jumaili, the detained oil ministry undersecretary for refining affairs.

Jumaili’s arrest in late May triggered the recent anti-graft campaign, with most of the arrests carried out since arising from the confessions he provided.

The anti-corruption efforts between Erbil and Baghdad are continuing within the framework of the “strong and continuous cooperation and coordination” between Zaidi and Barzani, the statement added.

KRG will continue efforts “to confront corrupt individuals, limit the squandering of public assets, and promote integrity and the rule of law.”

Since the operation was launched, many of the suspects have resorted to hiding the embezzled cash and gold, while some have reportedly attempted to smuggle them out of the country.

The Iraqi government has officially confirmed that at least 21 people were detained during the widespread crackdown operation – dubbed Operation Dawn – on corruption charges. Iraqi state media had initially reported that 47 people were arrested.

Among those detained were Sunni Azm Alliance leader Muthanna al-Samarrai, former Wasit Governor Mohammed Jamil al-Mayahi, Oil Ministry Undersecretary Ali Ma’arij al-Bahadli, and Ibrahim al-Sumaidaie, a senior adviser to former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani.