(AGENPARL) - Roma, 5 Gennaio 2023(AGENPARL) – gio 05 gennaio 2023 Confidentiality Level : INTERPOL For official use only
Please find attached the latest press release issued by INTERPOL following the arrest of a notorious people smuggler in Sudan.
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5 January 2023
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UAE action leads to arrest of people smuggling kingpin in Sudan
The Eritrean national had been on INTERPOLâ??s radar since 2019
LYON, France
â??
A notorious people smuggler, known for
his particularly cruel and violent treatment of migrants,
has been arrested in Sudan thanks to swift action by the United Arab Emirates, based on information shared via
INTERPOL.
Kidane Zekarias Habtemariam was the subject of two INTERPOL Red Notices, by
Ethiopia and the
criminal organization behind the kidnapping, extortion and murder of East African migrants.
The Eritrean national had been on
INTERPOLâ??s radar since 2019 and is believed to have smuggled and
trafficked thousands of victims.
In March 2022, intelligence gathered by INTERPOLâ??s Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants unit
Operational Centre in support of the Khartoum process and the African Union Horn of Africa Initiative (ROCK).
Officers explored analytical gaps, progressively closing in on the fugitive and his assoc
iates.
This extensive collaboration generated a new batch of intelligence, allowing UAE authorities to conduct a
Sudan.
His location and arre
st will deal a significant blow to a major smuggling route towards Europe and protect
thousands more from being exploited at the hands of the crime group.
Speaking about the arrest, Brigadier Saeed Abdullah al Suwaidi, Director General, Federal Anti
–
Narco
tics
General Directorate of the UAEâ??s Ministry of Interior said: â??Thanks to the professionalism and dedication of our
police officers, the worldâ??s most wanted human trafficker will no longer be able to commit his despicable actions.
The UAE will continue
to deploy our full operational capabilities to protect vulnerable communities from this horrific
exploitation.â?
welcomed the arrest, adding that he
had been on the Dutch National
Most Wanted List since October 2021. â??The Royal Marechaussee is grateful for the
effective cooperation in this investigation with various countries coordinated through INTERPOL.
â??This successful cooperation has already resulted in the extradition by
of his and is now followed by a major arrest. He will have to face justice for his criminal activities, including the
smuggling of thousands of victims under degrading and violent conditions,â? concluded Mr Kolkman.
Demelash Gebremichael, Commissioner General of the Ethiopian Federal Police recognized the efforts of
officers who worked day and night to follow up on leads generated by the task force: â??This tremendous effort has
led to the arrest of an international cri
minal sentenced to life in prison in Ethiopia. It is a notable success.â?
5 January 2023
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Stephen Kavanagh, INTERPOL Executive Director of Police Services added: â??This is a testament to the
INTERPOL network and what can be achieved when countries work together. In todayâ??s
world, it is quite simply the
only way to stop criminals whose repeated cruelty strips people of their dignity.
â??More than ever, we are committed to identifying all of the members in this smuggling ring, and any others
that viciously exploit people seeki
ng a better life,â? said Mr Kavanagh.
More arrests are expected as part of ongoing investigations and as coordination continues with several
INTERPOL member countries.
