The UK government said Thursday it had struck a “world-first security agreement” and other cooperation deals with Iraq to target people-smuggling gangs and strengthen its border security. Interior […]

The United Kingdom says it has signed a security pact with Iraq to target people-smuggling gangs and strengthen border cooperation, the latest in its efforts to crack down on irregular migration. “There are smuggler gangs profiting from dangerous small boat crossings whose operations stretch back through northern France,

The UK and Iraq have agreed on a "world-first" deal to tackle gangs based in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region that run people-smuggling operations across Europe that result in migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats.

Britain said on Thursday it had signed a security pact with Iraq to target people smuggling gangs and strengthen border co-operation, the latest in its efforts to crack down on illegal migration.

She met ministers from the federal government in Baghdad and regional leaders in Kurdistan in the north where many smuggling gangs are based. The agreement will involve greater intelligence sharing and more joint law enforcement operations,