FIVE men from Teesside have been charged in connection with a major Iraqi-Kurdish people-smuggling network.

They were arrested as part of a major National Crime Agency investigation into an organised criminal network alleged to have smuggled hundreds of Iraqi-Kurdish migrants into the UK.

The group, aged between 27 and 64, were all arrested during a series of raids carried out by the NCA and policing partners in February 2018.

Five of the men are from Teesside while a sixth accused man is from London.

They are accused of using lorries to transport people from France, Belgium and the Netherlands into the UK.

The migrants would be charged between £5,000 and £10,000 for that leg of the journey, according to the NCA.

The Northern Echo: Another suspect being detained by the NCA officersAnother suspect being detained by the NCA officers

NCA regional head of investigation Mark Spoors said: “This has been a long and complex investigation, involving partners from across Europe, including law enforcement agencies in France, Belgium and the Netherlands as well as here in the UK.

“Since the operation which saw the arrests took place we have worked patiently and diligently to build up evidence which has now led to these charges being authorised by the CPS.

“We remain determined to disrupt and dismantle organised crime networks involved in people smuggling.”

The six are due to appear before Newcastle-upon-Tyne Magistrates Court on Thursday (September 23).

  • Bestoon Abdullah Moslih, 38, of Tulip Close, Stockton, charged with conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law, and conspiring to facilitate for gain the entry into the UK of asylum seeker.
  • Khaled Mahmud, 47, of Kings Avenue, Lambeth, London, charged with two counts of conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law, and two counts of conspiring to facilitate for gain the entry into the UK of asylum seeker.
  • Marek Sochanic, 27, of Leyburn Street, Hartlepool, charged with conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law, and conspiring to facilitate for gain the entry into the UK of asylum seeker.
  • Gurprit Peter Kahlon Singh, 64, of Wheatear Lane, Ingleby Barwick, charged with conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law, and conspiring to facilitate for gain the entry into the UK of an asylum seeker.
  • Mohammed Kheder Zada, 40, of Applecross Grove, Wynyard, charged with conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law, and conspiring to facilitate for gain the entry into the UK of an asylum seeker.
  • Pareiz Abdullah, 28, of Allensway, Thornaby, charged with conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law, and conspiring to facilitate for gain the entry into the UK of an asylum seeker.

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