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Hundreds of illegal migrants heading to Britain last summer were kidnapped and tortured in Libya, it has been revealed. More than 300 young men are said to be threatened with forced organ removal if they do not pay a ransom of £3,700. The migrants, from Iraqi Kurdistan, described being held in inhumane conditions, with around 180 people crammed into a single cell. One hostage has died, according to the BBC. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say It remains unclear how many hostages remain in Libya. The militia was paid to assist the group of migrants through Libya on their long journey to Britain. They were due to navigate a multi-stage journey through Europe, starting with a Mediterranean crossing and ending with a crossing of the English Channel. Around 9,142 small boat migrants have crossed the English Channel to the UK so far this year. It is understood that a conflict broke out over payment details between the group and people smuggler Noah Aaron, who had organised the migrants' journey. The Iraqi Kurd has since been sentenced to 10 years in prison in France for separate money laundering and smuggling offences. He is said to have not paid the militant for a previous deal, leading the group to demand £3,700 from the families of the men. If payment was not delivered within a timeframe, the group would be paid "with a kidney". LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Andy Burnham demands Labour ‘go further’ to tackle Britain’s illegal migrant crisis At least 10 dead after migrant boat capsizes in Mediterranean as search operation launched Home Office told control of asylum system 'all but lost' after 'losing' illegal migrants in Britain Photos and videos later emerged showing injuries sustained by hostages and threats of the organ transplants being made. 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. Keir Starmer has repeatedly vowed to "smash the gangs", with the phrase remaining a core slogan of his Labour government's approach to tackling illegal immigration. However, 41,472 migrants crossed the English Channel in 2025, a 13 per cent increase from the previous year and marked 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. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
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