Three Arrested in Iraq for People Smuggling

Three men have been arrested in Iraq's Kurdistan Region for their alleged involvement in a people smuggling network that transports migrants to the UK and Europe. This operation, the first of its kind between British and Iraqi authorities, saw the National Crime Agency (NCA) collaborating with local security forces, leading to arrests between January 8 and January 12. The suspects, all from Sulaymaniyah, are linked to Amanj Hassan Zada, a smuggler sentenced to 17 years in prison in November 2024. One detainee is accused of coordinating yacht movements carrying large groups of migrants, while another is a banker alleged to have processed financial transactions for the network. British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that these arrests would significantly impact the smuggling networks operating across Europe. The operation underscores a strengthened UK-Iraq security partnership aimed at combating human trafficking.