Iraqi workers find 'sacks of ruined cash' in Mosul in post-ISIS clear up

Officials say they have recovered at least 175 bags of money so far as workers clear rubble from the liberation of Mosul

Workers dig holes to reach the underground safes of a central bank branch in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, once a stronghold of ISIS. AFP

Workers retrieve bags of banknotes from the underground coffers of a central bank branch in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, once a stronghold of the Islamic State(IS) group, on October 20, 2021. - In the imposing building with gaping holes and a blackened ceiling, workers removed sacks containing packs of banknotes rolled up in black plastic bags from a hole in the floor. When IS militants took Mosul in the summer of 2014, they seized several hundred million dollars as well as gold bars from the Mosul branch of Iraq's central bank. (Photo by Zaid AL-OBEIDI / AFP)

Bags of banknotes retrieved from the underground coffers of a central bank branch in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, once a stronghold of the Islamic State(IS) group, are piled up on the floor, on October 20, 2021. - In the imposing building with gaping holes and a blackened ceiling, workers removed sacks containing packs of banknotes rolled up in black plastic bags from a hole in the floor. When IS militants took Mosul in the summer of 2014, they seized several hundred million dollars as well as gold bars from the Mosul branch of Iraq's central bank. (Photo by Zaid AL-OBEIDI / AFP)

Workers dig holes to reach the underground safes of a central bank branch in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, once a stronghold of ISIS. AFP

Workers dig holes to reach the underground safes of a central bank branch in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, once a stronghold of ISIS. AFP

A police vehicle is parked outside the imposing and shattered central bank branch in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. AFP

Bags of banknotes retrieved from the underground coffers of a central bank branch in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, once a stronghold of the Islamic State(IS) group, are piled up on the floor, on October 20, 2021. - In the imposing building with gaping holes and a blackened ceiling, workers removed sacks containing packs of banknotes rolled up in black plastic bags from a hole in the floor. When IS militants took Mosul in the summer of 2014, they seized several hundred million dollars as well as gold bars from the Mosul branch of Iraq's central bank. (Photo by Zaid AL-OBEIDI / AFP)

A fighter holds an ISIS flag and a weapon on a street in the city of Mosul, Iraq, on June 23, 2014. Reuters

Members of an Iraqi special forces police unit fire a rocket toward ISIS militants on the south of Mosul, Iraq. Reuters

An Iraqi soldier fires a RPG during clashes with ISIS fighters in Al Qasar.

An Iraqi special forces soldier walks in front of humvees destroyed by an ISIS car bomb attack during clashes in Mosul, Iraq, November 19, 2016. Reuters

The destroyed Al Hadba minaret at the Grand Al Nuri Mosque in the Old City of Mosul. Reuters

Iraqi men distribute food to poor families in the old city of Mosul on August 22, 2018. Reuters

Workers clearing rubble from Iraq’s central bank building in the shattered city of Mosul have pulled bags of waterlogged banknotes from safes in the floor.

The grand building is still riddled with bullet marks, gaping holes and the walls are charred and blackened – a reminder of the gruelling ground battle to liberate the city from ISIS in 2017.

Bags of banknotes retrieved from the underground coffers of a central bank branch in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, once a stronghold of the Islamic State(IS) group, are piled up on the floor, on October 20, 2021. AFP

Workers clearing the site removed sacks of banknotes rolled up in black plastic bags from a hole in the floor, an AFP correspondent said.

"After starting to fix the building and removing rubble, we were able to access the safes," said Hussein Al Zaidi, chief of the Mosul branch of the Iraqi central bank.

The banknotes were badly damaged after "the coffers were engulfed in groundwater due to an air strike" during the offensive to take Mosul from the militants.

"We discovered banknotes in bags, small bills," he said.

So far, they have retrieved 175 bags, he said, without specifying the total value.

When ISIS militants overran Mosul in the summer of 2014, they seized several hundred million dollars, as well as gold bars from the Mosul branch of Iraq's central bank.

The country's second city, Mosul was the militant’s Iraqi "capital" of their self-proclaimed "caliphate".

Bags of banknotes retrieved from the underground coffers of a central bank branch in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, once a stronghold of the Islamic State(IS) group, are piled up on the floor, on October 20, 2021. AFP

The Iraqi army and a US-led coalition retook the city in 2017 after intense bombardment and fighting that left it in ruins.

Iraq declared victory over the extremists later that year.

Earlier this month, Iraq said it had captured ISIS's suspected finance chief, Sami Jasim Al Jaburi, in an operation in Turkey.