Three individuals have been jailed following the discovery of two young children hidden under furniture during an attempt to smuggle a family through the Eurotunnel into the UK. The incident highlights the risks posed by criminal networks exploiting vulnerable migrants.
Border Force officers stopped the vehicle at the Kent terminal, where the children, aged four and six, were found beneath stacked beds and mattresses in the rear of the van. The children were part of an Iraqi family of four attempting to enter the UK illegally.
Investigators from the Home Office said the case revealed a well-organized smuggling operation. Officials were able to trace the network using information recovered from a mobile phone seized from one of the migrants. The investigation identified those responsible for arranging the Eurotunnel booking and hiring the van used in the smuggling attempt.
At Canterbury Crown Court last week, three gang members were sentenced for their roles in the operation. Saman Ali Nori, 50, received two years and six months, while Harem Ahmed, 41, and Hemin Ahmed, 45, were each sentenced to two years and nine months in prison.
The Home Office said the case forms part of a wider crackdown on organized crime networks that exploit vehicles, including vans and lorries, to transport people illegally into the UK. Officials noted that migrants are often placed in confined, airless spaces with limited or no access to food or water, creating life-threatening conditions.
Minister for Border Security and Asylum Alex Norris emphasized the government’s commitment to border enforcement: “Securing the UK’s borders is a top priority. Criminal gangs that endanger human lives by attempting illegal journeys will face disruption. We are taking strong action to dismantle these networks.”
Officials said the Border Security Bill, currently under consideration, would grant law enforcement greater access to DVLA trailer registration data, enabling quicker identification of suspect vehicles. The National Crime Agency reported that over the past year, 350 criminal operations facilitating illegal entry into the UK have been disrupted.
Source:Africa Publicity
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