Two Brits Jailed Over Six Years for Smuggling Seven Indian Migrants in Car Boots
Two British men have been locked up for over six years after smuggling seven Indian migrants — including women and children — into the UK hidden in the boots of two cars.
How They Got Caught at the Border
Palvinder Singh Phull, 48, from Hounslow, was sentenced to three and a half years for assisting unlawful immigration. On 8 July 2018, he was stopped at Dover border checks. Three Indian nationals, claiming to be Afghan Sikhs, were found cramped inside the boot of his hire car.
His partner-in-crime, 45-year-old Harjit Singh Dhaliwal from Middlesex, was jailed for three years and two months. Four days later, on 12 July 2018, Dhaliwal was stopped at the UK border. Four Indian nationals, also claiming Afghan Sikh status, were discovered hiding in his car boot.
Linked by Phone Records, Caught by Home Office
Following a detailed investigation by the Home Office Criminal and Financial Investigations (CFI) unit, the two men were linked through mobile phone records. Both pleaded guilty at Canterbury Crown Court to assisting unlawful immigration.
Home Office Sends Strong Warning
Chris Foster, Deputy Director of Criminal and Financial Investigations at the Home Office, said:
“Today’s sentencing sends a clear message to those abusing our laws and borders: we will stop at nothing to bring to justice anyone attempting to smuggle people into the UK.”
“I would like to pay tribute to the hard work of my team and their tireless efforts to tackle this type of crime. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to disrupt people smuggling gangs and make sure those who break our laws face the consequences.”
