ERBIL — Three men have been arrested in the Kurdistan Region for allegedly being part of a global people-smuggling network that trafficked migrants from the Region to the United Kingdom and Europe.
The arrests, made between January 8 and 12, were a result of a joint operation between the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) and the local Kurdish security forces, including the Kurdistan Region Security Council and Asayish agencies in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah. This marks the first time the NCA has collaborated with these agencies to target high-ranking smugglers.
The three men, all from Sulaymaniyah, are accused of playing key roles in the smuggling operation. One acted as a coordinator, another as a financier, and the third as a middleman, facilitating the movement of migrants. They are now in custody and face prosecution for human trafficking offenses under the Kurdistan Region law.
The operation is seen as a significant blow to a criminal network that has been transporting migrants via small boats across the English Channel, a route notorious for its dangers. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper praised the operation, emphasizing that it would disrupt the criminal networks trafficking people across Europe.
The arrests are linked to Amanj Hasan Zada, an Iranian national who was sentenced to 17 years in prison in November for facilitating illegal immigration through small boat crossings. Zada, who ran his operation from his home in UK, boasted of his skills as a smuggler, even calling himself "the best smuggler." His network was known for recruiting migrants, arranging dangerous boat trips, and charging significant fees.
Among the men arrested is a 38-year-old accused of coordinating migrant transport via yachts, with vessels carrying dozens of people from the Middle East to Greece or Italy. A Hawala banker, in his 40s, who allegedly processed financial transactions for Zada's network, was also detained. A third man, in his 30s, is accused of gathering migrants for transport.
Rob Jones, NCA Director General of Operations, stated that the operation was a significant step in targeting the gangs behind the deadly Channel crossings. He added, “They thought they were untouchable, but thanks to our cooperation with the KRG authorities, they will be held accountable.”
Branch Commander Martin Clarke, who participated in the operation, stressed the dangers posed by these networks, which often deceive migrants with promises of safe journeys. "More than 70 people lost their lives attempting to cross the Channel in small boats in 2024, so this trade must stop," he said.