Quantities of Iraq's gold were seized by the U.S. military as part of a significant recovery of assets following the 2003 invasion. These seizures were part of a broader effort to secure and account for Iraqi state funds and valuables.
Seizure of Iraqi Assets
During and after the 2003 conflict, the U.S. military undertook operations to seize Iraqi assets. These seizures included substantial amounts of currency, bonds, and valuable items that were part of Iraq's state wealth.
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U.S. Military Seizures: Approximately $894 million in Iraqi assets were seized by the U.S. military. This comprehensive amount included a variety of financial instruments and precious items:
- Iraqi bonds
- U.S. dollars
- Euros
- Iraqi dinars
- Quantities of gold
- Jewelry
Notably, this total also encompassed $750,000 discovered in the possession of Saddam Hussein at the time of his capture, highlighting efforts to recover funds directly linked to the former regime.
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Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Seizures: In addition to the military's efforts, agents from the Department of Homeland Security were responsible for seizing an additional $32 million in Iraqi assets.
These actions aimed to secure and document the financial and material wealth of Iraq that was accessible during the post-invasion period. The gold, along with other valuable assets, was identified and recovered through these coordinated operations.
