BBC unmasks key people smuggler in network behind most small boat crossings
Key takeaways
- Sue Mitchell BBC News Watch: How the BBC tracked down identity of people smuggler.
- The 28-year-old Iraqi Kurd has evaded arrest for several years by operating under the alias "Kardo Ranya".
- The lack of information about Kardo Ranya's real name has also made it harder for individual police forces in Europe to track his whereabouts or follow leads beyond their own borders.
Why this matters: a developing story that could shape the day's news cycle.
Sue Mitchell BBC News Watch: How the BBC tracked down identity of people smuggler. A leading people-smuggler, whose network is believed to be responsible for the majority of illegal cross-Channel journeys in recent years, has been unmasked by a BBC investigation.
The 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 frustrated law enforcement agencies in their efforts to issue an international warrant for his arrest.
The lack of information about Kardo Ranya's real name has also made it harder for individual police forces in Europe to track his whereabouts or follow leads beyond their own borders.