MDing in Iraq?

[agentx73]

I apologize if this topic has been brought up before, but I couldn't find it anywhere on these forums or a quick Google search. I have only recently gotten into MDing, and I love it. Unfortunately, I am due to spend a year in Iraq starting this summer. I will be working in one of Saddam's old palaces (pictured below) near Baghdad International Airport. I started thinking that it might be pretty fun to hunt around the palaces. Who knows what kind of currency and other stuff I might find. Probably a lot of empty shells. I think that little island in the picture would be my first stop.

Anything I found about metal detecting in Iraq had to do with soldiers searching for weapon caches and IEDs. After some initial research, it looks like most companies will not ship metal detectors to Iraq and a few other countries. Does anyone know if it is banned there, or what restrictions there would be? Since I'm not looking for ancient artifacts and only metal detecting around the base, I'm wondering if it might be better to not ask for permission. I would appreciate any advice you treasure hunters might have on this subject.

 

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[Charlie P. (NY)]

Just stand still. In Iraq the metal comes to you.

If you're military you can probably get away with in on your down time. Civilian I'd say it will be an uphill battle. I'd dig really gently when uncovering a hit.

 

[stevesno]

I took my water detector with me to Iraq in 2003. I was so busy I only got to use it on base and then only found the usual clad. It did come in handy in the vollyball pit when a officer lost a ring. Take it with you. But be careful of the blowing sand. My water unit was a perfect match for that environment....Steve

 

[Ricardo_NY1]

I'd stay away from detecting any area where there could possibly be.............a Landmine!

 

[Montana Jim]

We do have a member of the treasurenet family there now... and he's detecting... but he's also EOD.

 

[Ant]

A coworker of mine just got back from Iraq. If you're a Civilian like he is it will depend on what Company you're going over with. He said that the easiest way to get it over there is to have it shipped via US Mail .

He works with me and our Command let him off for a year on LWOP (leave without pay), he just go back in January.

 

[Scribe]

I was there in 2003 to 2004. I can't imagine trying to detect in that place, although BIAP (Baghdad International AirPort) might not be that bad. The "palace' was a full sized city and I'm sure over the years a number of things have been lost there. That said....
1. What you can ship or take home is pretty tight. There were a number of looting incidents (I still laugh about the reporter that got caught stealing a painting ) during and after the major fighting. Because of that there are (or were) a lot of people checking your gear when your leaving. They're not just looking for relics, but all the other souvenirs like night vision goggles, guns, ammo...you know, the usual.
2. You might be able to mail it out. I know that a lot of guys mailed home legitimate stuff home without a problem. They still check your packages when you mail home, but there are a lot of brass pans, vases, coin collections...that sort of stuff that made it home. But is was also real obvious tourist stuff so there's that.
3. They quit using US coins. The PX started using these cardboard tokens instead of coins when they made change so I never really saw actual US coins while I was there. And the locals always charge even money...$1, $2, $3...etc and there is no "sales tax" with the locals so it's always the dollars they want.

I would think that there still would be decent stuff to detect, but you never know. I never saw any regulations against it, but then I (as you probably do) know a number of the higher'ups will make those "on the spot command decisions" and just say no to it.
Also you will be busy. Most of the troops were in a constant state of on the go. I wasn't even the busiest and I even had a 36 hour patrol (if you can avoid that I would highly recommend doing so ).

 

[Blind.In.Texas]

kaboom...no kidding.

 

[Coincollector22]

Id be extra careful, who knows what youll find...like a landmine...or maybe those WMD's!

 

[clad]

i took mine to the AOR and found all kind of foreign coins along with u.s. coins.also squadron coins and spent shells.it was a good time spender.