Leader of human trafficking operation sentenced to prison for illegally transporting thousands of individuals to the UK via boats

A man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison in Belgium for leading a major human trafficking gang involved in smuggling people across the English Channel. Hewa Rahimpur, a 30-year-old Iranian Kurd, was responsible for smuggling approximately 10,000 individuals to the UK using small boats. Despite claiming asylum in Britain in 2016 and being allowed to remain, Rahimpur set up a barbershop in London and used the country as a base for his criminal activities. His gang sourced boats, engines, and life jackets from Turkey and China, transported them to Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, and then handed them over to migrants in Calais and Dunkirk. The migrants, including women and children, were given basic instructions on how to use the boats and then crossed the Channel. Some of the boats were in terrible condition, held together with gaffer tape and planks of wood. It is estimated that Rahimpur's gang accounted for nearly 10% of the crossings to the UK during a 12 to 18-month period. Migration expert Stef Janssens stated that 30 to 40 people were crammed into each boat, and he found it astonishing that there weren't more fatalities. The joint investigation by the UK's National Crime Agency and Belgian authorities led to the discovery of multiple boats near the Belgian-French border. Rahimpur was subsequently arrested in East London, and 135 boats, 45 engines, and over 1,200 life jackets were seized. Over 40 individuals across four countries were arrested in one of the largest law enforcement operations of its kind. Despite Rahimpur's conviction and sentencing, authorities believe that human traffickers will continue their operations. The demand for smuggling services remains high, with migrants paying exorbitant fees to secure a spot on a boat. It is estimated that Rahimpur's gang generated around €60 million (£52 million) in 2021. Even deadly incidents have not deterred individuals from attempting to reach Europe via small boats. The UK has seen over 24,200 arrivals from France via the English Channel so far this year. NCA Deputy Director Craig Turner emphasized that the criminal networks involved in human smuggling have no regard for the well-being of the individuals they transport, but the agency remains committed to disrupting and dismantling these operations.