One of Europe’s most infamous human smugglers, Barzan Majeed, also known as “the Scorpion,” was arrested in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. The regional government’s security agency detained him in the area of Sulaymaniyah, following a request from Interpol and the exchange of intelligence information. Majeed was wanted for people smuggling crimes in Belgium after attempting to smuggle 100 migrants to the U.K. in small boats and trucks. The number of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats has increased in recent years, as people seek better opportunities in Britain due to war, climate change, and economic uncertainty.
The U.K.’s National Crime Agency had issued an appeal for assistance in locating Majeed in 2022 after he was convicted in absentia in Belgium. Last month, the U.K. Parliament passed controversial legislation allowing the government to deport those who enter the country illegally to Rwanda. This move came after five people, including a 7-year-old girl, died while crossing the English Channel in an overloaded inflatable boat. Many of the migrants attempting to cross into the U.K. come from Iraq’s northern Kurdish region, where rising unemployment and corruption are pushing young Kurds to take the perilous journey.
Iraq’s northern Kurdish region is relatively more stable and prosperous than other parts of the country, but challenges such as unemployment and corruption are driving many to seek better opportunities abroad. In November 2021, 16 Iraqi Kurds were among a group of 27 people who died attempting to cross the English Channel. The Kurdish region has been a hub for migration due to its proximity to Europe and the promises of a better life in countries like the U.K. Many migrants pay smugglers thousands of dollars for the dangerous crossing in the hopes of reuniting with family or finding work in a country with perceived weak immigration enforcement.
The arrest of Barzan Majeed, known as “the Scorpion,” in northern Iraq highlights the ongoing issue of human smuggling and the dangerous journey migrants take to reach Europe. Majeed’s arrest was a result of cooperation between Interpol, the U.K.’s National Crime Agency, and the regional security agency in the Kurdish region. The increased number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats has raised concerns about the safety of the journey and the need for stronger immigration enforcement measures. The tragic deaths of migrants, including children, during these crossings have prompted calls for action to address the root causes of migration and improve the safety of those seeking a better life abroad.
