BAGHDAD, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Iraq's National Security Service (INSS) said on Friday it had foiled two major attempts to smuggle foreigners into the country, detaining 194 people who had entered illegally.

The agency said intelligence led security forces to set up an ambush on a road between Diyala province and Baghdad, where they intercepted a disguised truck carrying 125 foreign nationals.

In a separate operation in northern Kirkuk province, forces detained 69 more people, the INSS said. All 194 have been referred to the authorities for legal action.

A security source told Xinhua that smuggling gangs bring dozens of foreigners into Iraq each month without documents, often under the guise of securing jobs.

Iraq has long struggled with human trafficking and migrant smuggling, according to international reports. Decades of conflict, porous borders, and weak institutions have enabled networks to exploit migrants from Asia, Africa, and neighboring states, many of whom are promised work but face debt bondage or abuse instead.

The government has stepped up efforts to counter human trafficking, though limited resources and regional instability continue to hamper efforts. ■