Barzan Majeed, known as "The Scorpion," one of Europe's most notorious human smugglers, has been arrested in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. The arrest was made upon a request from Interpol and after the exchange of intelligence information.
Notorious Human Smuggler "The Scorpion" Arrested in Iraq
Barzan Majeed, known as "The Scorpion," one of Europe's most notorious human smugglers, has been arrested in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, security officials said Monday.
The regional government's security agency said it had arrested Majeed in the area of Sulaymaniyah, upon a request from Interpol and "after the exchange of intelligence information." He was handed over to the regional justice department, it said.
The arrest comes after a joint U.K.-Belgian investigation convicted Majeed in absentia in Belgium of people smuggling crimes. The U.K.'s National Crime Agency (NCA) had issued an appeal for assistance in tracking Majeed down in 2022.
According to the NCA, Majeed attempted to smuggle 100 migrants to the U.K. in small boats and trucks. The agency said Majeed is part of an organized crime group that has been involved in the smuggling of migrants to the U.K. for several years.
The number of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats has soared in recent years as individuals fleeing war, the effects of climate change, and economic uncertainty have sought a better life in Britain. They pay smugglers thousands of dollars for the crossing, hoping to reunite with family members or find work in a country where immigration enforcement is seen as weak and where migrant groups from all over the world can easily blend into society.
Last month, the U.K. Parliament approved controversial legislation allowing the government to deport to Rwanda those who enter the country illegally. Hours later, five people, including a 7-year-old girl, died while crossing the English Channel in an overloaded inflatable boat.
Many of the would-be migrants hail from Iraq's northern Kurdish region. While the region is relatively more prosperous and stable than other parts of the country, increasing unemployment and corruption issues are driving many young Kurds to undertake the dangerous journey.
In November 2021, 16 Iraqi Kurds were among a group of 27 people who died while attempting to cross the channel.
Majeed's arrest is a significant development in the fight against human smuggling. He is one of the most notorious smugglers in Europe and his arrest will disrupt the activities of his organized crime group. It is also a reminder of the dangers that migrants face when they attempt to cross the Channel in small boats.
