• Home
  • News
    • Global Operations
      • Asia
      • Africa
      • Europe
      • Latin America
      • Middle East
      • North America
    • Industry
      • Asia
      • Africa
      • Europe
      • Latin America
      • Middle East
      • North America
      • Oceana
    • Special Interest
      • Asia
      • Africa
      • Europe
      • Latin America
      • Middle East
      • North America
      • Oceana
  • Market
    • Coming Soon
  • Intelligence
    • Job Board
    • Events
    • Contract Awards
    • USMC Deception Manual
  • Resources
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Policy
    • Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • News
    • Global Operations
      • Asia
      • Africa
      • Europe
      • Latin America
      • Middle East
      • North America
    • Industry
      • Asia
      • Africa
      • Europe
      • Latin America
      • Middle East
      • North America
      • Oceana
    • Special Interest
      • Asia
      • Africa
      • Europe
      • Latin America
      • Middle East
      • North America
      • Oceana
  • Market
    • Coming Soon
  • Intelligence
    • Job Board
    • Events
    • Contract Awards
    • USMC Deception Manual
  • Resources
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Policy
    • Privacy Policy
Login
Join Free
Home
Asia
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Asia
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Asia
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Coming Soon
Job Board
Events
Contact Awards
USMC Deception Manual
Login
Join Free
Home Special Interest Middle East Special Interest

Notorious Migrant Smuggler Arrested in Iraq Following BBC Investigation

  • Editor Staff
  • May 14, 2024
Editorial credit: Sean Aidan Calderbank / Shutterstock.com
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterLinkedIn

Barzan Majeed, widely known by his alias “Scorpion,” was arrested on Sunday morning in Sulaymaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan, following a BBC investigation into his smuggling operations. Majeed has been a key figure in the people-smuggling trade across the English Channel for several years, where he and his gang facilitated the illegal movement of migrants in boats.

The arrest was confirmed by a senior member of the Kurdistan Regional Government, who stated that the operation was conducted without incident outside Majeed’s home. This development marks a significant breakthrough in curbing the activities of one of the most significant smuggling networks between Europe and the UK. According to the Kurdistan Regional Government, discussions will soon be held with European police and prosecutors regarding Majeed’s extradition and further legal actions.

The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) also acknowledged the arrest, expressing gratitude towards the BBC for highlighting Majeed’s case. The NCA emphasized its commitment to disrupting and dismantling criminal networks involved in smuggling people to the UK.

Majeed, in a prior interview with the BBC, downplayed his role, claiming that others implicated him to reduce their sentences. He portrayed the smuggling as a response to the desperate pleas of migrants seeking to reach the UK.

In October 2022, a Belgian court sentenced Majeed in absentia to 10 years in prison and fined him €968,000 for 121 counts of people-smuggling. At the time, his whereabouts were unknown until the BBC located him.

 

Expanded Coverage:

BBC

Rudaw

Financial Times

JOIN THE SOFX REPORT

Read the daily 5-minute intel report built to inform over 36,000 decision makers across the Special Operations and Defense Community.

    Your privacy is our priority. We will never rent, sell or share your information with anyone.

    Editor Staff

    Editor Staff

    The Editor Staff at SOFX comprises a diverse, global team of dedicated staff writers and skilled freelancers. Together, they form the backbone of our reporting and content creation.

    Subscribe
    Login
    Notify of
    Please login to comment
    0 Comments
    Oldest
    Newest Most Voted
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Trending News

    Third F/A-18 Jet Lost from USS Truman During Red Sea Operations

    Third F/A-18 Jet Lost from USS Truman During Red Sea Operations

    by Editor Staff
    May 8, 2025
    0

    The USS Harry S. Truman lost another F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet on Tuesday when it went overboard during a...

    Video Shows Close-Combat Clash Between IDF and Hamas in Gaza

    Video Shows Close-Combat Clash Between IDF and Hamas in Gaza

    by Editor Staff
    May 12, 2025
    0

    A video reportedly released by Israeli local Israeli media outlets shows Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers in a close-range firefight...

    U.S. Deploys Four B-52 Bombers to Diego Garcia, Joining B-2 Stealth Fleet on Remote Outpost

    U.S. Deploys Four B-52 Bombers to Diego Garcia, Joining B-2 Stealth Fleet on Remote Outpost

    by Editor Staff
    May 10, 2025
    0

    Recent satellite imagery confirms the deployment of four U.S. Air Force B-52 bombers to the remote Indian Ocean outpost of...

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    Next Post
    Sonic Therapy: Special Ops Band “Demoted” Rocks Away Stress

    Sonic Therapy: Special Ops Band "Demoted" Rocks Away Stress

    Erdogan Confirms Over 1,000 Hamas Members Treated in Turkey

    Erdogan Confirms Over 1,000 Hamas Members Treated in Turkey

    997 Morrison Dr. Suite 200, Charleston, SC 29403

    News

    • Global Operations
    • Special Interest
    • Industry
    • Global Operations
    • Special Interest
    • Industry

    Services

    • Membership Page
    • Merchandise
    • Recruiting
    • Membership Page
    • Merchandise
    • Recruiting

    Resources

    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Editorial Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Editorial Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    wpDiscuz
    No Result
    View All Result
    • Home
    • News
      • Global Operations
        • Asia
        • Africa
        • Europe
        • Latin America
        • Middle East
        • North America
      • Industry
        • Asia
        • Africa
        • Europe
        • Latin America
        • Middle East
        • North America
        • Oceana
      • Special Interest
        • Asia
        • Africa
        • Europe
        • Latin America
        • Middle East
        • North America
        • Oceana
    • Market
      • Coming Soon
    • Intelligence
      • Job Board
      • Events
      • Contract Awards
      • USMC Deception Manual
    • Resources
      • Contact Us
      • About Us
      • Editorial Policy
      • Privacy Policy
    Subscribe
    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.