Ten years in prison for transporter who smuggled migrants

Anas Al Mustafa, 43, was convicted of aiding and abetting illegal immigration for smuggling the seven people in a converted minibus across a ferry between Dieppe in France and Newhaven in East Sussex on February 16.

The discovery in the port of East Sussex triggered a major emergency service operation involving ambulances, police and border guards.

In sentencing, Judge Christine Laing said the offence “endangered the economic and physical security of the nation and all its citizens”.

She added: “The security of this country and every other country depends on knowing who lives in it.

“Desperate people are prepared to risk their lives to come to the UK, often with tragic consequences. They are exploited by those who profit from this trade and have little concern for their safety.”

In addition to the prison sentence, the judge also ordered the confiscation of the van as well as Al Mustafa's phone and SIM card.

Jurors at Lewes Crown Court had previously heard that the six men and woman were deprived of oxygen and suffered dehydration in the hidden room, which was “as wide as a human chest”.

Prosecutor Nick Corsellis KC told the court that while the younger migrants had recovered from dehydration and heat, one man may have suffered a heart attack, a woman suffered acute kidney failure and another man was admitted to hospital in a coma and suffered a stroke.

During the trial, it was reported that crew members of the ship “Seven Sisters” heard pleas from a van on deck during the journey and used an axe to tear down the artificial partition behind which the people were hiding in order to free them.

Mr Corsellis had said that the secret compartment was two metres wide, 194 centimetres high and 37 centimetres wide, so that the migrants had to stand and could hardly move.

No water was provided to them, the prosecutor added.

Jurors were told that two of the migrants had lost consciousness at the time of their rescue at around 9:20 a.m. and the entire group was taken to hospital and treated.

An Australian nurse and passenger on the ferry, Sari Gehle, responded to an emergency call to assist the crew during the incident and described the casualty as “terrified”, repeatedly clutching her arm tightly and saying “Vietnam, Vietnam” so that she understood that the group was from there.

Other male victims, she recalled, were lying on the ground. One was vomiting, another had a cut on his left shoulder. All were given oxygen masks.

During the trial, Al Mustafa, from Swansea, denied knowing the pair were in the vehicle and told jurors he was “shocked” and “completely stunned” by the discovery.

The father of two added that it was the “most difficult day of his life”.

The court had previously heard how Al Mustafa, who is originally from Syria but moved to the UK between 2010 and 2011, was introduced to a man called Badr during his last stay in Syria who told him he needed him as a van driver.

During a police interview without an interpreter, the prosecution stated that Al Mustafa had received £500 on a previous occasion for driving the van to Liverpool for a roadworthiness test, but that for the February job he would receive £5,000 for driving the van to the UK.

Jurors heard Al Mustafa told police he did not know there were people in the van, but as he was being paid £5,000 he thought: “Maybe there are people inside this time.”

Mr Corsellis asked the jury to consider whether this was a confession, adding: “We consider that the defendant has not told the whole truth about his involvement in human trafficking.”

When Al Mustafa was questioned about the interview, he told the jury through an interpreter that the figure of £5,000 was incorrect and that he had meant £500.

He also said he could not remember telling police that he thought there might be people in the van and did not know why he said that.

Instead, Al Mustafa told the court that he had flown to Amsterdam for vacation and met Badr at the airport, who suggested that he return the same van that he had already driven to the garage for a general inspection because there was a defect in the gearbox.

In passing sentence, Judge Laing said she rejected these allegations and was “satisfied that you were not just the driver during the operation”.

Border Security and Asylum Minister Dame Angela Eagle described Al Mustafa as an “evil criminal” who “risked the lives of seven people for cash”.

She added: “It is a miracle that they are still alive after the conditions they were subjected to by Mr Mustafa.

“We cannot allow these criminal gangs to continue putting people's lives at risk. That is why we are taking decisive action against those who undermine our border security. Our new Border Security Command brings together hundreds of specialist investigators dedicated to tackling criminal gangs in the first place, before they have a chance to operate in the UK.”

Chris Foster, regional head of criminal and financial investigations at the Home Office, said: “Today's verdict sends a clear message to the ruthless people smugglers who put profit before lives. We will continue to pursue you relentlessly and bring those who exploit you to justice.”

“The victims are extremely lucky to be alive. This shocking case shows the extraordinary lengths criminals will go to in order to maintain their business model. My team is determined to stay one step ahead of them to ensure we stop them and save lives.”

Lauren Doshi of the prosecution added: “The defendant in this case attempted to cover up his involvement in people smuggling into this country.

“A lot of effort went into converting a van to hide 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 put the lives of those he was trying to smuggle into the UK at risk.

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

“We will use our Proceeds of Crime Unit to attempt to recover any money or assets acquired through this crime.”