Human Trafficking Suspect Arrested in Erbil

ERBIL, Iraq — Erbil police and the Asayish Directorate have arrested a suspect identified as S.E. for allegedly operating a human trafficking network targeting young girls for a decade. According to the Erbil Police Department, the suspect used social media accounts to facilitate the exploitation of Syrian and Arab girls aged 14 to 15. The suspect is accused of arranging for these minors to be exploited by men outside of Kandil in exchange for money, with officials stating that hundreds of girls were trafficked through this method. The operation was carried out following intelligence gathering and the issuance of judicial warrants. The suspect was located, detained, and has since been referred to the judiciary for legal proceedings. Erbil security officials stated that the arrest has dismantled one of the most dangerous human trafficking networks operating in the region.