A criminal gang that smuggled migrants back to France has said that it was just doing the UK Government’s job. The London-based network was foiled by the National Crime Agency (NCA), which found videos on the phone of one of the ringleaders, filmed by one of those they were trying to smuggle, that showed terrified people screaming for help in the back of a locked trailer. Seven members of a people smuggling ring were jailed on Thursday for loading migrants into lorry trailers and attempting dangerous journeys from Britain to Europe.
Twelve members of the crime group have been convicted in total. Its head, 41-year-old Algerian national Azize Benaniba, was jailed for 12 years and 11 months at Isleworth Crown Court. He and his co-conspirators brought migrants of North African origin into the UK on tourist visas. Once in the country, they were packed into lorries and attempts were made to smuggle them into France via Dover, each being charged up to £1,200.
Rebecca Austin, for the prosecution, said the gang claimed they “were simply doing the Government’s job for them by transporting migrants out of Britain into France”.
“The defendants claimed their actions were somehow removing migrants from Britain,” she added.
Judge Giles Curtis-Raleigh said: “This was an extremely serious conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration to a member state. This was a long-lived conspiracy over eight months, encompassing 20 events.”
John Turner, NCA senior investigating officer, said: “These smugglers had no care for the safety or wellbeing of the people they crammed into lorry trailers – their only concern was making money.
“We’ve seen the fatal consequences of this crime type, as migrants have sadly lost their lives being smuggled across borders on land and at sea.
“Our thorough investigation has safeguarded hundreds of migrants who were put in serious danger, and has now led to jail terms for 12 members of a prolific people smuggling network.”
He added that the networks “treat human beings like commodities”, and that officials know they are involved in inbound as well as outbound smuggling.
Mr Turner said: “Tackling organised immigration crime is a key priority for the NCA, and alongside our international law enforcement partners, we are relentless in our efforts to dismantle these networks wherever they operate.”
