(Commonwealth_Europe) Digital advertising has been launched today in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) as part of the UK government’s international effort to counter the deceptive tactics of people smugglers. This campaign expands similar efforts in countries such as Vietnam and Albania, aiming to warn potential migrants about the lies and misinformation spread by traffickers. The focus is on dispelling the false promises and dangerous claims made by these criminals, who exploit vulnerable individuals desperate to migrate.
The initiative includes powerful quotes from real migrants who have attempted the perilous journey, emphasizing the real risks and tragic consequences of falling victim to smuggling gangs. These testimonials are crucial in combating the false narratives pushed by traffickers, especially those peddling online myths that portray migration as an easy and safe process. The campaign’s goal is to expose the ruthless methods these gangs use to deceive and exploit people, thereby increasing awareness and helping to prevent future tragedies.
This digital campaign is part of the UK government’s broader strategy to enhance border security, part of its “Plan for Change.” The government is committed to breaking the business models of these criminal organizations, which operate across borders and prey on vulnerable migrants. By exposing the dangerous reality behind these smuggling operations, the UK aims to reduce the number of people willing to risk their lives in the hands of traffickers.
In parallel, the UK government is strengthening its international collaborations to combat people smuggling. Today, on 4 March 2025, the UK and Vietnam are set to sign a joint communiqué during the third annual UK-Vietnam Migration Dialogue, held in Hanoi. This agreement further commits both nations to work together in combating the exploitation of irregular migrants, dismantling criminal gang operations, and improving intelligence sharing. The communiqué includes provisions for speeding up the process of returning individuals with no legal right to remain in the UK. It also emphasizes the continuation of the communications campaign in Vietnam to counter the lies propagated by smugglers.
Dame Angela Eagle, the UK’s Minister for Border Security and Asylum, highlighted the importance of exposing the lies spread by criminal gangs who exploit social media to prey on vulnerable people. She stressed that this campaign aims to break the criminal business model and protect people from becoming victims. Eagle also emphasized the deadly risks migrants face when they entrust their lives to smugglers, pointing to the many tragic deaths in the English Channel as a result of these dangerous operations. The UK government is determined to bring these criminals to justice and prevent further loss of life.
To support this effort, Martin Hewitt, the UK’s Border Security Commander, visited Iraq and the KRI last week to advance the agreements made in November between the UK and the Iraqi government. These agreements focus on improving cooperation to combat organised immigration crime and strengthen mutual border security. Hewitt met with senior officials from both the Federal Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government to discuss ongoing initiatives, including joint operations and intelligence sharing.
The UK’s Border Security Command is taking a comprehensive approach to tackle irregular migration, focusing on prevention, international collaboration, and providing law enforcement agencies with the necessary tools to combat criminal gangs. New counterterrorism-style powers introduced in the Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill, which is currently under committee stage in Parliament, will enable law enforcement to take action more swiftly and effectively against people smugglers. These powers include the ability to seize and search mobile phones to investigate organized immigration crimes and to target gangs involved in planning illegal crossings, selling small boat parts for Channel crossings, or supplying forged documents to migrants.
Hewitt underscored the importance of international partnerships in this effort. He emphasized that working closely with law enforcement agencies around the world is essential for dismantling these criminal organizations, breaking their operations, and putting an end to the harm they cause. Communications campaigns are a vital part of this strategy, sending a clear message to prospective migrants about the dangerous lies peddled by smugglers.
In addition, the UK government has published a short film that explains the mission and activities of the Border Security Command. The video features Martin Hewitt and key personnel, outlining the challenges posed by criminal gangs and detailing how the UK government plans to dismantle these organizations and ensure justice for those involved in people smuggling.
The UK’s international communications campaign will also be significantly expanded this year. The goal is to reach prospective migrants at every stage of their journey, warning them about the risks of illegal migration and the harsh realities they may face if they fall into the hands of smugglers. The campaign will also target diaspora communities in the UK, alerting them to the dangers their families and friends abroad may face and providing them with information to help them make safer choices.
Through these efforts, the UK government is committed to protecting vulnerable individuals from the dangers of people smugglers and ensuring that law enforcement has the resources and support it needs to tackle organized immigration crime on a global scale.
