Overview
- People‑smuggling groups are reported to be circulating a covert recording that trains migrants to pose as members of Kuwait’s stateless Bidoon to pass a UK asylum interview.
- The audio features an Iraqi man who follows a prepared script about arrest and torture, then answers knowledge checks on Kuwait’s currency, flag, dialling code and governorates.
- Reports attribute the tape’s distribution to Calais‑based ringleader Abu Hussein Al‑Iraqi, who is said to boast of daily crossings and to demand journey footage as part payment.
- The Home Office says it is aware of such coaching and relies on trained linguists for language analysis and on biometric cross‑referencing, which applicants must provide within 45 working days.
- Asylum claims citing Kuwaiti nationality rose from 276 in 2023 to 1,210 in 2025, while the share granted has dropped to about 40%, a shift linked to tighter checks on so‑called nationality shopping that also exploits identities with high grant rates such as Eritrea or Iran.