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The United Kingdom says it has signed a security pact with Iraq totarget people-smuggling gangs and strengthen bordercooperation, the latest in its efforts to crack down on irregularmigration. %u201cThere are smuggler gangs profiting from dangeroussmall boat crossings whose operations stretch back throughnorthern France, Germany, across Europe, to the Kurdistan Region ofIraq and beyond,%u201d British interior minister Yvette Cooper said in astatement on Thursday. %u201cThe increasingly global nature oforganised immigration crime means that even countries that arethousands of miles apart must work more closely together,%u201d sheadded. %u201cOrganised criminals operate across borders, so lawenforcement needs to operate across borders too,%u201d she said duringa visit to Iraq and its Kurdistan region.As part of the agreements, London will provide up to 300,000pounds ($380,000) for Iraqi law enforcement training in bordersecurity. It will be focused on countering organised immigrationcrime and narcotics and increasing the capacity and capability ofIraq%u2019s border enforcement. The UK pledged another 200,000 pounds($254,000) to support projects in the Kurdistan region that %u201cwillenhance capabilities concerning irregular migration and bordersecurity, including a new task force%u201d. Other measures within theagreements include a communications campaign %u201cto counter themisinformation and myths that people-smugglers post online%u201d.Cooper%u2019s Home Office said the security pact was %u201cthe biggestoperational package to tackle serious organised crime and peoplesmuggling between the two countries ever%u201d.https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/28/uk-and-iraq-sign-security-deal-to-curb-people-smugglingIRAQUK and Iraq sign security deal to curb people smuggling