Hundreds of migrants destined for the UK were reportedly abducted, subjected to torture, and faced threats of having their organs forcibly removed, according to a recent report. An investigation by the BBC revealed that over 300 young men from Iraqi Kurdistan were detained in Libya by militia groups who demanded £3,700 from each of their families. The captives were warned that if the ransom was not paid, their kidneys would be harvested.
Former hostages who were later freed presented photographic evidence indicating that forced organ removal procedures were indeed carried out. They recounted enduring torture and being confined in overcrowded conditions, with up to 180 individuals crammed in a single cell. Tragically, at least one hostage lost their life, and the fate of the remaining captives remains uncertain. The militia members were initially tasked with guiding the migrants across Libya towards the Mediterranean coast. However, a dispute arose over payment involving Noah Aaron, an Iraqi Kurd trafficker who had organized the migrants’ journey.
Aaron is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence in France for unrelated charges of money laundering and smuggling. Details of the abductions came to light during a recent BBC inquiry into another smuggler, Kardo Jaf, whose subsequent arrest was linked to the investigation.
Both Aaron and Jaf, believed to have collaborated previously, hail from Ranya in Iraqi Kurdistan, an area identified by the UK think tank Chatham House as being entrenched with active smuggling networks.
In a separate incident in February, a BBC investigative team in Ranya was approached by a local resident whose son was among those held captive. The man disclosed that Aaron’s smuggling ring had extorted significant sums from his family to facilitate the journey to the UK, involving passage through North Africa and across the Mediterranean into Europe.
The route through Libya, characterized by a lack of effective governance, serves as a breeding ground for human trafficking operations, as noted by UN adviser Anthony Dunkerley. Much of Libya is under the control of rival militias, with smuggling syndicates relying on their cooperation.
Jaf’s network charges approximately £15,000 to transport an individual from Iraq to the UK, positioning itself as a higher-priced yet safer alternative compared to rival trafficking groups.
Despite maintaining anonymity, Jaf promotes his services on social media platforms with images of himself, along with enticing videos showcasing the allure of London and testimonials from purportedly satisfied clients who successfully completed the journey.