BBC: Major network of migrant smugglers to Britain uncovered

2026-05-12 09:05:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

A migrant smuggler whose network is believed to be responsible for the majority of illegal journeys across the Channel in recent years has been uncovered by a BBC investigation .

A 28-year-old Iraqi Kurd has evaded arrest for several years by operating under the alias “Kardo Ranya.” He has kept his real name a closely guarded secret, which has hampered law enforcement agencies in their efforts to issue an international arrest warrant for him.

The lack of information about Kardo Ranya's real name has also made it more difficult for individual police forces in Europe to track his whereabouts or follow leads beyond their borders.

Kardo Ranya is believed to run a smuggling operation with routes stretching from Afghanistan to the UK. Kardo Ranya's real name may have been kept secret, but he has not hesitated to show his face when advertising his services as a smuggler on social media platforms. He has also posted videos luring clients with images of luxury London and testimonials from apparently satisfied clients who have already made the journey to the UK.

A former smuggler told the BBC that Kardo Ranya's network charges around €17,000 (£15,000) to transport a migrant from Iraq to the UK. Although this price is often higher than that of its rivals, the network claims to offer a safer journey (and a VIP service for those who can afford to pay more).

Small boat crossings have become the most common way of detecting people entering the UK illegally since 2020. Almost all of those who arrive this way claim asylum, saying they cannot live safely in their home country due to persecution or violence.

BBC journalists followed the network from migrant camps in northern France to the town of Ranya in Iraqi Kurdistan. During their investigation, they also learned the tragic story of Shwana, a 24-year-old from Ranya who lost his life while trying to cross the English Channel in a boat overflowing with illegal immigrants. His family said he was influenced by the smugglers' advertisements and the lack of economic prospects in his homeland.

In the town of Ranya, journalists met with relatives of victims and people who spoke out against the smuggling networks. Meanwhile, a small museum in the town commemorates migrants who have lost their lives on the journey to Europe. Through contacts with lower-level smugglers, the BBC was able to obtain documents that revealed the true identity of “Kardo Ranya”, who was Kardo Muhammad Amen Jaf.

The journalists then contacted Jafin himself, posing as clients looking to transport their family to Britain. He denied being a smuggler and claimed he was only helping people with advice on leaving Iraq. However, he admitted to being aware of the case of the boat on which Shwana disappeared.

Meanwhile, an associate of his, Noah Aaron, has been sentenced in France to 10 years in prison for migrant smuggling and money laundering. After the publication of his real identity, European authorities are believed to have an easier time tracking down and arresting Jafi, who remains wanted by police, while his whereabouts remain unknown. /CNA