On Lithuania's plea, Iraq to probe human smuggling to Europe

Iraq's foreign minister says his country will investigate human trafficking networks responsible for smuggling hundreds of Iraqis into Europe, specifically to Lithuania from Belarus

BAGHDAD -- Iraq's foreign minister said Thursday his government would investigate trafficking networks responsible for smuggling hundreds of Iraqis into Europe, specifically via Belarus to Lithuania. Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein made the promise after a meeting in Baghdad with his visiting Lithuanian counterpart, Gabrielius Landsbergis. Lithuania, which recently declared a state of emergency due to the rising influx of migrants, had appealed on Iraq to act in the matter. Hussein said Iraq will form a committee with representatives from the Foreign Ministry, Migration Ministry, as well as intelligence and the Civil Aviation Authority to clamp down on the smuggling networks. He spoke to reporters in a joint press conference with Landsbergis. Landsbergis said there was a “mutual need” to disrupt the network from Iraq into Europe that was being perpetrated by “malign actors” using criminal elements. He blamed neighboring Belarus for encouraging migration into Lithuania.