Three men arrested in Iraq over alleged UK people smuggling links Three men who are allegedly part of a global people smuggling network moving migrants from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) into the UK and Europe have been arrested.
This was the first time the NCA has worked with Asayish (security) agencies in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah to target high-ranking people smugglers who are trying to transport migrants across Europe and into small boats to the UK.
They have been linked to the same network as Amanj Hasan Zada, an Iranian national who dubbed himself “the best smuggler” and was jailed for 17 years in November after he arranged Channel small boat crossings from his home in Lancashire.
Amanj Hasan Zada, of Stefano Road, Preston, was convicted by a jury of three counts of facilitating illegal immigration after a two-week trial at Preston Crown Court.
