In the group Al-Zaafaraniya for Sales and Purchases, an Al-Monitor reporter found a Kalashnikov for sale, called the number provided and asked if he could buy the weapon without getting arrested. The seller answered, “We can meet somewhere far from the security forces, and if we get caught, I know someone who can make sure we don’t get arrested.”
Online sales aren't limited to guns. One of the members of the Al-Zaafaraniya group offered three hand grenades for $30 each. In another group, Baghdadi Market for the Trade of Weapons, an account under the name Diyaa al-Baghdadi even advertised military equipment, including a Russian-made cylindrical ammunition reservoir, a rocket launcher and binoculars.
In addition to weapon sales, exchanges also can be arranged and are usually advertised in the comments section.
Interior Ministry spokesman Saad Maan told Al-Monitor, “These groups play a negative role in the process of making weapons exclusive to the Iraqi government. The Interior Ministry, however, has a plan to help deal with them." He said the ministry’s intelligence agency is consistently following up on such groups and has used informants and ambushes to arrest some members, though he didn't say how many.
A security source told Al-Monitor on the condition of anonymity, “It has been more than a year since our agents have infiltrated such groups, and we were able to arrest some of their members. We are observing them closely and focusing our efforts on stopping them, especially in the capital, Baghdad.”
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