![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3NMSERFN3HYQNDET2SRORYZKYE.jpg?smart=true&auth=889e2120dbd381c9a618646dd7540f84455287efe8a2c256b5736a9133b80bd1&width=400&height=225)
During his trial, jurors were told the home-made, poor-quality inflatable should have carried no more than 20 people but at least 43 were crammed on board in a bid to cross the Channel. PA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R63REZN2FJHMLPK3MUIQZTZKTU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ce37c53a334a5db428e5484bc19789352992c493987fa87c3bd7d4cfd22cc374&width=400&height=225)
Police raids across Europe have dismantled an alleged people-smuggling operation that transported migrants across the English Channel in flimsy boats. Photo: Europol
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZJ2SN7CSNRFA7MIOWYRNYOHRKE.jpg?smart=true&auth=730629a202cca4949fe93da7d78717acbe04604fe0a5f144161eea35590e61c6&width=400&height=225)
More than 660 German police officers, thought to include the elite GSG9 special forces unit, were involved in the Europol-run operation, which led to 25 arrests. Photo: Europol
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GXVZ3KYZKREA7ORDYN4KAZTVX4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ee5c6fde9a1ff0c35a59e82d56ab0bb507ce82b5a29f3b9074159b8ac345e948&width=400&height=225)
A further 15 arrests were made in Belgium and France. Photo: Europol
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K752YYOX3ZCKJL3KMUGJ525CPI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e5fe6335e1242b960a9192c8514cdfbedfa8e91bbb47cae0308e287fcc5eecfb&width=400&height=225)
Europol said the 'investigation focused on an Iraqi-Kurdish network suspected of smuggling Middle Eastern and East African irregular migrants from France to the UK with the use of low-quality inflatable boats'. Photo: Europol
Life jackets and fuel cans were seized by German police and earlier, dinghies and engines were confiscated. Photo: Europol
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HCJHONFFENCZJKIA4NSVRY3J4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d20d849f39679a11f38771368e32e496bca8e5d804269db2033efcc64b83197&width=400&height=225)
The arrests in Europe come after Ibrahima Bah, seen in a court sketch here, was found guilty of the manslaughter of migrants who had paid thousands of euros to smugglers for a spot in an overcrowded vessel. PA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3NMSERFN3HYQNDET2SRORYZKYE.jpg?smart=true&auth=889e2120dbd381c9a618646dd7540f84455287efe8a2c256b5736a9133b80bd1&width=400&height=225)
During his trial, jurors were told the home-made, poor-quality inflatable should have carried no more than 20 people but at least 43 were crammed on board in a bid to cross the Channel. PA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R63REZN2FJHMLPK3MUIQZTZKTU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ce37c53a334a5db428e5484bc19789352992c493987fa87c3bd7d4cfd22cc374&width=400&height=225)
Police raids across Europe have dismantled an alleged people-smuggling operation that transported migrants across the English Channel in flimsy boats. Photo: Europol
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZJ2SN7CSNRFA7MIOWYRNYOHRKE.jpg?smart=true&auth=730629a202cca4949fe93da7d78717acbe04604fe0a5f144161eea35590e61c6&width=400&height=225)
More than 660 German police officers, thought to include the elite GSG9 special forces unit, were involved in the Europol-run operation, which led to 25 arrests. Photo: Europol
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GXVZ3KYZKREA7ORDYN4KAZTVX4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ee5c6fde9a1ff0c35a59e82d56ab0bb507ce82b5a29f3b9074159b8ac345e948&width=400&height=225)
A further 15 arrests were made in Belgium and France. Photo: Europol
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K752YYOX3ZCKJL3KMUGJ525CPI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e5fe6335e1242b960a9192c8514cdfbedfa8e91bbb47cae0308e287fcc5eecfb&width=400&height=225)
Europol said the 'investigation focused on an Iraqi-Kurdish network suspected of smuggling Middle Eastern and East African irregular migrants from France to the UK with the use of low-quality inflatable boats'. Photo: Europol
Life jackets and fuel cans were seized by German police and earlier, dinghies and engines were confiscated. Photo: Europol
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HCJHONFFENCZJKIA4NSVRY3J4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d20d849f39679a11f38771368e32e496bca8e5d804269db2033efcc64b83197&width=400&height=225)
The arrests in Europe come after Ibrahima Bah, seen in a court sketch here, was found guilty of the manslaughter of migrants who had paid thousands of euros to smugglers for a spot in an overcrowded vessel. PA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3NMSERFN3HYQNDET2SRORYZKYE.jpg?smart=true&auth=889e2120dbd381c9a618646dd7540f84455287efe8a2c256b5736a9133b80bd1&width=400&height=225)
During his trial, jurors were told the home-made, poor-quality inflatable should have carried no more than 20 people but at least 43 were crammed on board in a bid to cross the Channel. PA
Suspected Iraqi-Kurdish people-smuggling network smashed by police
Gang put migrants' lives in danger by taking them across the English Channel in flimsy boats, authorities claim
Tariq Tahir
22 February, 2024
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