Azerbaijani border guards detain Iraqi citizen trying to cross illegally from Iran

On September 8, the Lankaran border detachment of Azerbaijan's State Border Service (SBS) prevented an attempt to violate the state border from Iran into Azerbaijan, according to a statement from the SBS.

During operational measures, border guards detained an Iraqi citizen, Gbur Amir Wisman (born 2006), who was attempting to cross illegally. Operational and investigative activities are ongoing, as reported by Caliber.Az.

The incident occurred in the service area of the Lankaran border detachment, which guards Azerbaijan's southern border with Iran, a region known for its challenging terrain including the Caspian Sea coast and mountainous areas.

Illegal border crossings from Iran into Azerbaijan are a recurring issue, often involving migrants from third countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan seeking to reach Europe via Azerbaijan as a transit point. These attempts are driven by economic hardship, conflict, and instability in the Middle East, with Azerbaijan serving as a key node in irregular migration routes toward Türkiye and the EU.

The Lankaran detachment has been particularly active in countering such violations. For instance, on July 22, 2025, SBS forces in the same area detained Iraqi citizen Safwan Mohammad Asad for attempting an illegal crossing from Iran. Earlier, on May 6, 2025, two Afghan citizens were apprehended in the Lankaran sector while trying to breach the border from Iran. On August 16, 2025, authorities thwarted a drug smuggling attempt across the same border, seizing over 12 kg of narcotics.  

By Khagan Isayev