Erbil, Kurdistan Region – The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on 10 Iraqi nationals, including individuals from the Kurdistan Region, as part of a new global initiative targeting human smuggling networks, the British Consulate in Erbil announced on Wednesday.

The sanctions, introduced under the newly launched Global Irregular Migration and Trafficking in Persons (GIM) regime, mark the world’s first legal framework specifically designed to combat smuggling gangs and their facilitators.

The UK Consulate General in Erbil stated that the sanctioned individuals were involved in "exploiting and endangering vulnerable people, including from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and threatening the security of the UK and the KRI."

The measures include travel bans, asset freezes, and restrictions on accessing the UK’s financial system. Unlike criminal prosecutions, these sanctions require less evidence and act as a preemptive tool to disrupt smuggling operations before crimes are fully executed.

The UK government emphasized that the sanctions are part of a broader strategy, coordinated with international partners, including the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), to dismantle smuggling networks and promote regional stability.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated, "For too long, criminal gangs have been lining their corrupt pockets and preying on the hopes of vulnerable people with impunity... We will not accept this status quo."

Reports indicate that Kurdish criminal groups dominate the lucrative cross-Channel migration routes into the UK. The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has previously collaborated with KRG authorities to combat organized immigration crime.

In November 2023, a French court sentenced 18 people—mostly Kurds from the Kurdistan Region—to prison terms of up to 15 years for running a smuggling ring across the English Channel. Similarly, in May 2024, Kurdish police in Sulaimani arrested a man accused of leading a UK-bound human trafficking ring.

Alongside the sanctions, the UK has signed a "one in, one out" agreement with France, allowing the return of illegal migrants arriving from France in exchange for accepting a set number of vetted asylum seekers.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also secured agreements with France and Germany to curb illegal crossings via small boats.

Thousands of Iraqis and Kurds undertake dangerous journeys to Europe annually, fleeing unemployment, political instability, and corruption. The UK’s new sanctions aim to disrupt the networks profiting from their desperation.