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"Ali Baba" Market in Basra Dealing in Looted Goods

Aired April 28, 2003 - 14:34   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: All the loot stolen during the Iraqi war, well, it hasn't exactly disappeared. In fact, it's quite easy to obtain for a price in one Iraqi city. CNN's John Vause reports the goods on the market in Basra and they can be tempting.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the new thriving commerce in Basra. What we're told an illegal market selling illegal goods. The British call it "Ali Baba" after the "40 Thieves." The merchants here deny it, but everyone knows it. This is the business end for the looters.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No pictures?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No pictures.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why not?

VAUSE: Here, almost everything is for sale. Street lights, three U.S. dollars, computer monitors, $3. Shower heads, yes, $3 as well. And that's before the haggling begins. Even a motorcycle, that will cost $300.

In fact, the Ali Baba market is behind a mini building boom in Basra. Mohammed Saleen just bought new tiles for his house and, oh, what a bargain. Before the war, one tile would cost 1,000 dinars, less than $1. But now he's all he paid for each, box of 12.

MOHAMMED SALEEN (through translator): In the Islamic way I ask the person selling the stuff if it's stolen or not. If he says not, then I can buy it. If he says it is stolen, then I won't buy it.

VAUSE: The looters are still picking over the Sheridan just across the street. Maisen Abdilah is selling what he says are the hotel's fluorescent light coverings and shelving.

MAISEN ABDILAH (through translator): I know it's not right to take this stuff. But how am I going to buy dinner for my family? They haven't had food for three or four days.

VAUSE: Others are more ambitious. Through a hole in a security wall at this steel works, they've loaded up with as many steel beams as they could cram onto trucks, tractors, busses or haul away with donkeys. And where did it end up? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No TV.

VAUSE: Ali Baba strikes again.

(on camera): It would be wrong to give the impression that everyone in Basra is buying stolen goods. Despite all the bargains, some refuse to shop here because, they say, it is against Islam and also this is not the future they want for Iraq.

John Vause, CNN, Basra.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired April 28, 2003 - 14:34   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: All the loot stolen during the Iraqi war, well, it hasn't exactly disappeared. In fact, it's quite easy to obtain for a price in one Iraqi city. CNN's John Vause reports the goods on the market in Basra and they can be tempting.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the new thriving commerce in Basra. What we're told an illegal market selling illegal goods. The British call it "Ali Baba" after the "40 Thieves." The merchants here deny it, but everyone knows it. This is the business end for the looters.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No pictures?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No pictures.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why not?

VAUSE: Here, almost everything is for sale. Street lights, three U.S. dollars, computer monitors, $3. Shower heads, yes, $3 as well. And that's before the haggling begins. Even a motorcycle, that will cost $300.

In fact, the Ali Baba market is behind a mini building boom in Basra. Mohammed Saleen just bought new tiles for his house and, oh, what a bargain. Before the war, one tile would cost 1,000 dinars, less than $1. But now he's all he paid for each, box of 12.

MOHAMMED SALEEN (through translator): In the Islamic way I ask the person selling the stuff if it's stolen or not. If he says not, then I can buy it. If he says it is stolen, then I won't buy it.

VAUSE: The looters are still picking over the Sheridan just across the street. Maisen Abdilah is selling what he says are the hotel's fluorescent light coverings and shelving.

MAISEN ABDILAH (through translator): I know it's not right to take this stuff. But how am I going to buy dinner for my family? They haven't had food for three or four days.

VAUSE: Others are more ambitious. Through a hole in a security wall at this steel works, they've loaded up with as many steel beams as they could cram onto trucks, tractors, busses or haul away with donkeys. And where did it end up? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No TV.

VAUSE: Ali Baba strikes again.

(on camera): It would be wrong to give the impression that everyone in Basra is buying stolen goods. Despite all the bargains, some refuse to shop here because, they say, it is against Islam and also this is not the future they want for Iraq.

John Vause, CNN, Basra.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com