Iraq arrests 194 foreigners ‘illegally’ in the country

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi security forces announced on Friday the arrest of 194 people who they said had “entered the country illegally.”

The arrests were made in two separate operations.

In the first operation, the Iraqi National Security Services (INSS) said that they ambushed a truck “disguised as transporting cement” on the road from Diyala to Baghdad. There were 125 foreigners on board.

In a second operation, using information obtained from an interrogation, the INSS said it located a hideout in Kirkuk city where they arrested 69 foreigners.

Human trafficking, including forced labor, sexual exploitation, organ trafficking, forced begging, and exploitation of children, is a serious concern in Iraq.

“Iraq serves as both a source and destination country for human trafficking,” according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). 

Fadel al-Gharawi, head of the Strategic Centre for Human Rights in Iraq, has warned of an increase in human trafficking under the pretence of migration conducted by international crime networks. According to Gharawi, women and girls make up the majority of victims.

Iraq passed its Anti-Human Trafficking Law in 2012.