The city of Ranya– a small town in Northern Iraq– is more than 2,500 miles from Calais and Dunkirk. But it has a near monopoly on the people smuggling gangs that traffic migrants across the English Channel. The Times visited Ranya to meet the kingpins and ask: how did one village become responsible for Britain’s small boats crisis?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: Shayma Bakht, reporter, The Times.

Host: Luke Jones.

Producer: Micaela Arneson.

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: I met the smuggling kingpins behind the deadly Channel crossings

Further listening: ‘Repugnant’ or necessary? The new asylum rules

Clips: Getty Images, DRM News.

Photo: Times Media Ltd.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

INVESTIGATION: Meet the smuggling kingpins behind the deadly Channel crossings

The Story

INVESTIGATION: Meet the smuggling kingpins behind the deadly Channel crossings