An unprecedented number of at least 23 pilgrims from the Kurdistan Region have died during this year's Hajj, reflecting a generally high mortality rate among pilgrims from all countries. According to the KRG, the vast majority of these deaths occurred among individuals who entered Saudi Arabia on tourist visas, circumventing the official Hajj visa allocation system. This practice is illegal, as Saudi Arabia assigns a specific quota of Hajj visas to each country.
Organised crime, including smuggling, is prevalent among some Kurdish groups, especially in the UK. Numerous Kurdish-owned "barber shops", now common on high streets across many UK towns and cities, are money laundering fronts for various illicit activities, such as people trafficking, oil smuggling, and narcotics trafficking - most of which is done in the KR. Additionally, many of these barber shops are used by Albanians and others as nodes for drug trafficking.
Organised crime, including smuggling, is prevalent among some Kurdish groups, especially in the UK. Numerous Kurdish-owned "barber shops", now common on high streets across many UK towns and cities, are money laundering fronts for various illicit activities, such as people trafficking, oil smuggling, and narcotics trafficking - most of which is done in the KR. Additionally, many of these barber shops are used by Albanians and others as nodes for drug trafficking.