Man involved in smuggling people into the UK in the back of a van has been sentenced

A man involved in people smuggling into the UK was today (29 August 2024) found guilty of assisting illegal immigration.

Anas Al Mustafa, 43, was found guilty after a trial at Lewes Crown Court of assisting illegal immigration into the UK.

The Public Prosecution Service brought the charges against Mustafa following his arrest at the scene and an investigation by the Home Office Criminal and Financial Investigations Immigration Enforcement Unit.

The Public Prosecution Service has proven that the suspect was involved in the smuggling of seven Vietnamese from France to the United Kingdom, hidden in the back of a van.

Al Mustafa was the driver of a van that was stopped in Newhaven, Sussex, on a ferry that had travelled from Dieppe, France. Border Force and police discovered that the van was carrying seven Vietnamese migrants, hidden in a specially designed and built shelter in the back of the van.

The migrants were discovered after they were heard screaming for help by a crew member on the ferry. The ferry captain and crew members helped the migrants escape by breaking down a false wall at the back of the van, which was hiding the seven people. Everyone found in the van received emergency medical attention at the scene, suffering from oxygen deprivation due to the conditions in which they had been transported. All required hospital treatment and one remained in a coma for several weeks after the incident.

Lauren Doshi, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “The defendant in this case attempted to conceal his involvement in smuggling people into this country. Considerable effort had been put into modifying a van to conceal people in the back in dangerous and potentially life-threatening conditions. All of this was designed to circumvent the checks and border controls we have in place to prevent illegal immigration. He endangered the lives of those he was attempting to smuggle into the UK.

“The CPS is committed to working with law enforcement to identify and prosecute those involved in people trafficking.

“We will seek to recover all money and assets obtained through this crime through our Proceeds of Crime department.”

Border Security and Asylum Minister Dame Angela Eagle said: “This horrific incident could easily have ended in tragedy, and anyone who was in this criminal’s van should count themselves incredibly lucky to be alive.

“We are sending a clear message that we will not tolerate this kind of life-threatening activity. Our new Border Security Command will work with partners across Europe to destroy the business models of criminal smuggling gangs and stop their activities long before they reach the UK.”

Chris Foster, the Home Office’s regional lead for criminal investigations for the south, said:: “Today’s sentencing is a clear example of the lengths to which evil people smugglers will go to make money. The lives of seven people were put at risk after being crammed into a boiling, cramped shelter in the back of a van with no access to air.

“I want to thank my investigative teams for their work on today’s case. We will continue to tirelessly pursue human traffickers who undermine our border security in an attempt to trade lives for money.”