Dr. Dindar Zebari highlights regional efforts, international cooperation,
and growing global concerns over trafficking networks.
On the sidelines of the “Aman” project conference on combating migrant smuggling and human trafficking held in Vienna, Austria, Dr. Dindar Zebari, Coordinator for International Recommendations in the Kurdistan Regional Government, warned that human smuggling has evolved into a global crisis.
In an exclusive interview with The Kurdish Globe, he outlined the Kurdistan Region’s efforts to address irregular migration and trafficking, stressing that the Region carries a significant humanitarian burden. He noted that more than 856,000 internally displaced persons and refugees are currently hosted in the Kurdistan Region, placing an estimated annual cost of around $208 million on the government.
Dr. Zebari presented detailed statistics showing a rise in trafficking-related crimes. Forced labor cases increased from 17 in 2021 to 49 in 2024, while sexual exploitation cases rose from 9 to 25. He also reported 103 organ trafficking cases recorded in 2024. In addition, 114 cases linked to irregular migration were documented in the same year, with eight smuggling networks dismantled and referred to courts in Erbil, Duhok, and Garmian, resulting in 79 arrests and 12 convictions.
Between early 2025 and early 2026, a further 15 individuals were arrested in new smuggling cases, while more than 319 Iraqi citizens were repatriated from Libya and Tunisia during 2025.
He also highlighted international cooperation efforts, including coordination with the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), which led to the dismantling of transnational networks and the arrest of suspects linked to a migrant boat tragedy off the coast of Italy in 2024. Around 430 shell companies used for illegal activities were also shut down.
Dr. Zebari further noted a joint agreement between the Kurdistan Regional Government, the UK, and the Iraqi federal government on border security and anti-smuggling measures, with £800,000 allocated for training and awareness programs.
He stressed that combating human smuggling requires a comprehensive approach beyond security measures alone, calling for stronger cross-border intelligence sharing, targeting of criminal masterminds, and enhanced digital monitoring of online smuggling networks. He reaffirmed the Kurdistan Region’s commitment to international cooperation in protecting human dignity.