# Why are we such mugs? Take a deep breath and read the 25-year saga of two illegal Iraqi migrants who became people-smuggling kingpins, ran rings round our legal system and cost taxpayers £1million

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/why-are-we-such-mugs-take-a-deep-breath-and-read-the-25-year-saga-of-two-illegal-iraqi-migrants-who-became-people-smuggling-kingpins-ran-rings-round-our-legal-system-and-cost-taxpayers-1million/
- Published: 2026-11-06T22:55:01+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T23:03:52+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16272965/Why-mugs-deep-breath-read-25-year-saga-two-illegal-Iraqi-migrants-people-smuggling-kingpins-ran-rings-round-legal-cost-taxpayers-1million.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: World

## Key points

- Two Iraqi men remain in Britain amid a prolonged deportation case.
- They were arrested over a payment linked to smuggling four migrants.
- The legal proceedings are estimated to have cost more than £1 million.

## Summary

Two Iraqi Kurdish men accused of leading a people-smuggling operation are still living in Britain, more than 25 years after arriving unlawfully, despite failed asylum claims and a long-running effort to deport them. Their case highlights how legal and prosecutorial errors, followed by repeated appeals, have prolonged removal proceedings and added to public costs.

The men were arrested in Reading after being caught handing £16,000 to a lorry driver; prosecutors said the payment was for bringing four migrants into the UK. A recent Special Immigration Appeals Commission appeal was rejected, but the pair are appealing again. The article says the case has involved 13 publicly funded barristers at its latest hearing and is believed to have cost taxpayers more than £1 million; authorities also suspect the men may still be involved in smuggling.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.