Warning: This episode contains references to human exploitation and is only intended to be heard by adults aged 18 and over. If you are likely to find this distressing, emotionally triggering or challenging,  please consider carefully how you might want to engage with this episode. We’ve provided links for support agencies in the description below. Stay safe. 

Welcome to this week's episode where I talk to Alan Edwards.

Alan is former UK military and UK police. 

Alan was running anti-people smuggling operations back in the 90s with the National Crime Squad, going on to set up one of the first International Units of its kind based in Istanbul to try and stop the people smuggling networks across Europe. 

Alan talks in detail about the international operations he’s been involved in, giving insight into the harrowing experiences of those smuggled along the routes.

From kidnappings, rape and torture, to trafficking into terrorist training camps….and how Alan and his team helped to bring down Kidane Habtemariam, the Eritrean national heading one of the largest and most violent people smuggling networks in Africa. 

Emergency and support lines

UK emergency 999 /
non-emergency 112, Europe emergency 112, US emergency 911 (A full list of
global emergency telephone numbers can be accessed on Wikipedia at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emergency_telephone_numbers) 
Childline 0800 1111
Crimestoppers UK 0800 555111
UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline 08000 121 700
Migrant Help 0808 8010 503
Rape Crisis England & Wales 0808 5002222