High-Level People Smuggler Identified by BBC Arrested in Iraq
A high-level people smuggler has been arrested in Iraqi Kurdistan.
A Major Arrest
The BBC identified him in an investigation. Kardo Jaf, also known as Kardo Ranya, is suspected of running a major smuggling network. His network is believed to have transported thousands of illegal migrants. They crossed the English Channel into the UK in recent years. He was arrested on suspicion of human trafficking. Officers from the Kurdistan Regional Security Agency carried out the arrest. He remains in custody as investigations continue.
Real Name Uncovered
The 28-year-old Iraqi Kurd operated under several aliases. He kept his real name a closely guarded secret. That made it difficult for law enforcement to issue an international arrest warrant. The BBC’s Sue Mitchell and Rob Lawrie uncovered his real name last week. Their pursuit of the smuggler is told in the Radio 4 podcast *Intrigue: To Catch A King*.
Denies Allegations
Confronted by the BBC, Jaf denied being a smuggler. He said he only advised people on how to leave Iraq. He also said he did not believe he had committed any offence.Jaf is suspected of being a key player in an Iraqi Kurdish network. That network has controlled the majority of illegal cross-Channel journeys in recent years. His pseudonym, Kardo Ranya, came from the town in Iraqi Kurdistan he and other leaders are from.
