In 2022 news broke that $2.5bn had been stolen in Iraq, the biggest bank heist ever. Nicolas Pelham, The Economist's Middle East correspondent, follows the money 01:41 - The investigation begins 02:28 - Where did the money come from? 03:55 - Who was Nur Zuheir? 04:29 - Following the trail in Baghdad 08:11 - Corruption in Iraq 13:21 - The government changes course 15:46 - Who is complicit, really? 16:50 - What happened to the money? Artwork based on illustrations by Mike McQuaid Sign up to The Economist’s daily newsletter: https://econ.st/3QAawvI Sign up to 1843’s newsletter, The Extraordinary Story: https://econ.st/3OdEkys The Baghdad job: who was behind history’s biggest bank heist? https://econ.st/44KnMoM After 20 years of trauma, Iraq is struggling to recover: https://econ.st/4757kBo “What was once the world’s most dangerous road is lined with new real estate”—Iraq, 20 years later: https://econ.st/3QajZg5 Iraq’s new prime minister vows to clean up the country: https://econ.st/43GURRj The Iraqi militias are copying their overmighty cousins in Iran: https://econ.st/44Afi3y Iraq’s parliamentary plague: https://econ.st/44B9uqt Shia Muslims are no longer in the ascendant: https://econ.st/44ZTWMH How the Iraq war became a threat to American democracy: https://econ.st/3Kc8Pnv Why Baghdad may have the worst traffic in the Middle East: https://econ.st/3Qb2kVE