Iraq Kurdish authorities arrest ‘Scorpion’ migrant smuggler

SULAIMANIYAH: A migrant-smuggler known as “Scorpion”, wanted in several European countries, has been arrested in Iraq´s autonomous Kurdistan region, local authorities said on Monday, after a BBC investigation tracked him down there.

“After a thorough investigation and exchange of intelligence information... Scorpion was located and arrested on May 12,” Kurdish security forces said in a statement. “Scorpion”, whose real name is Barzan Majeed, was arrested in the city of Sulaimaniyah at Interpol´s request, said security forces spokesperson Salam Abdel Khaleq to AFP. “We will question him and take appropriate action,” Abdel Khaleq added.

A BBC investigation titled “To Catch a Scorpion” published last week tracked Majeed down to Sulaimaniyah. In an interview with the British broadcaster, he spoke of how he got into the people smuggling business in 2016 during a massive inflow of migrants to Europe. During their investigation, the BBC team shared their findings “with the authorities in the UK and Europe”.