Barzan Majeed, a notorious migrant-smuggler known as 'the Scorpion', has been captured by Iraqi Kurdish authorities with assistance from Interpol and the U.K.'s National Crime Agency.

Majeed has been involved in trafficking migrants to Europe since 2016 and was recently arrested in the Kurdistan region of Iraq after being tracked by the BBC.

He was previously convicted in absentia in Belgium for people smuggling and was on Interpol's wanted list.

The smuggler's operations included attempting to transport 100 migrants to the U.K. via small boats and trucks.

The arrest occurs against the backdrop of increasing migrant crossings from Iraq's northern Kurdish region to Europe, fueled by local unemployment and corruption.

The danger of the journey is highlighted by the November 2021 tragedy, where 16 Iraqi Kurds died while trying to cross the Channel.

Majeed's capture marks a significant law enforcement success in the fight against illegal migration and the criminal networks behind it.