Hundreds of Iraqi Kurdish Migrants Kidnapped, Tortured and Threatened With Organ Removal in Libya

Hundreds of illegal migrants heading to Britain last summer were kidnapped and tortured in Libya. More than 300 young men from Iraqi Kurdistan were threatened with forced organ removal if they did not pay a ransom of £3,700. The migrants were held in inhumane conditions, with around 180 people crammed into a single cell.

The militia had been paid to assist the group through Libya on their journey to Britain. The migrants were due to navigate a multi-stage journey through Europe, starting with a Mediterranean crossing and ending with a crossing of the English Channel. A conflict broke out over payment details between the group and people smuggler Noah Aaron, who had organised the migrants' journey.

Noah Aaron had not paid the militant for a previous deal. The militia demanded £3,700 from the families of the men. If payment was not delivered within a timeframe, the group would be paid "with a kidney".

Photos and videos later emerged showing injuries sustained by hostages and threats of organ transplants. One hostage has died, according to the BBC. It remains unclear how many hostages remain in Libya.

Noah Aaron has been sentenced to 10 years in prison in France for separate money laundering and smuggling offences. The Iraqi Kurdistan region of Libya, particularly towns like Ranya, is internationally recognised as a major global hub for people-smuggling networks. Kidnapping for ransom is a common occurrence along migration routes through Libya.

The country has "a huge vacuum of government", Anthony Dunkerley, a UN adviser who has investigated human trafficking, told the BBC. Around 9,142 small boat migrants have crossed the English Channel to the UK so far this year. In 2025, 41,472 migrants crossed the English Channel, a 13 per cent increase from the previous year and the second-highest annual total on record.

Hemn Merany, a senior official at the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Ministry of Interior, has warned that the flow of illegal migrants from Iraqi Kurdistan to Europe has persisted despite the extreme dangers. GB News has reached out to the Home Office for a comment.