Interpol has reported the arrest in Sudan of the «world’s most wanted human trafficker,» Eritrean Kidane Zekarias Habtemariam, thanks to an investigation by the United Arab Emirates and information shared through the international police agency.
Habtemariam was known «for particularly cruel and violent treatment» of migrants, and up to two Interpol Red Alerts — from Ethiopia and the Netherlands — had been issued for migrant smuggling, human trafficking and other related crimes, the agency said in a statement.
Interpol alleges that he ran a large-scale criminal organization that kidnapped, extorted and murdered East African migrants. He is believed to have trafficked thousands of people.
Habtemariam had been wanted by Interpol since 2019 and international collaboration to share information allowed the United Arab Emirates to open a new investigation into the organization and his family that uncovered a money laundering scheme leading to Sudan, where he has finally been arrested.
His location and arrest is a «major setback» for the human trafficking route leading to Europe and will allow thousands of people to be protected from abuse and exploitation by this criminal group, according to Interpol.
It is also hoped that Habtemariam’s arrest will allow the investigation to expand and further arrests to be made in collaboration with Interpol member countries.
«This operation is proof that the Interpol network works and what can be achieved when countries work together. In today’s world it is the easiest way to stop criminals who repeatedly strip people of their dignity,» said Interpol’s Executive Director of Police Services, Stephen Kavanagh.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
