Russia continues to accuse Turkey of smuggling ISIS oil. Turkey in its turn denies it procures oil from anything other than legitimate sources. Meanwhile, such illegal fuel exports remain one of the key sources of funding for the brutal group, which makes the issue rather important. Now the European media have unveiled the relevant data following the Russian news agencies that used to be the only source of information on Turkey’s questionable links with terrorist organizations. Thus, Die Presse, an Austrian established news reporting recourse, published materials which support cooperation between the Islamic State and Turkish authorities. According to the unveiled data, Ankara managed to develop far more multifaceted relations with ISIS than the global community could suppose. Experts call for drawing close attention to the region between the towns of Jarabulus and Kilis. Here, the brutal group controls nearly 100 kilometers of the Syrian-Turkish border. And it is here where smuggled crude begins its journey to the global commodity market. Besides, militants use this troubled border region for trafficking in weapons, money, antiquities, and food. The US-led coalition, which Turkey has joined, is making hard efforts to prevent trafficking. Both analysts following the situation in the region and troops securing the border note a significant decline in smuggling oil flows on the key routes.
