A notorious people smuggler escapes justice

Last month, an infamous Eritrean human trafficker was sentenced to life in prison without parole in absentia in Ethiopia. Kidane Zekarias Habtemariam, known as Kidane, who absconded from custody in February, oversaw an extensive smuggling operation in Libya where he is alleged to have extorted money from thousands of victims as they attempted to make their way to Europe. Sally Hayden has reported on the 21st century slave trade on Europe’s doorstep for The Irish Times for a number of years, interviewing victims of Kidane and his associate knows as “Walid”. She talks to Conor Pope about the horrors of the North African smuggling trade and why she felt it was important to report on this story.

Produced by Declan Conlon, Jennifer Ryan and Suzanne Brennan.

Opening music by Hugh Rodgers.

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