Albanian People Smuggler Jailed for Nearly a Decade Over Channel Crossings
An Albanian smuggler who helped organise illegal boat trips across the English Channel has been locked up for almost 10 years. Eglantin Doksani, 24, was involved in major smuggling ops that may have moved hundreds of migrants throughout 2022, authorities say.
Key Player in £££ Smuggling Network Exposed
Doksani was a crucial link in a vast criminal ring led by Hewa Rahimpur, believed to have smuggled around 10,000 people into the UK. Acting as a middleman, Doksani booked spots on boats for migrants using contacts inside Rahimpur’s gang.
Evidence came from WhatsApp messages found on Rahimpur’s phone, where Doksani was saved under the sneaky contact name “Nodnol” (London backwards). Texts showed him urgently pushing for quick crossings, often mentioning “cash in hand” payments.
Crucial Evidence Found on Phones and During Raids
Investigators also uncovered incriminating chats on Doksani’s own phone, detailing pick-up points along the northern French coast near Gravelines, between Calais and Dunkirk.
The crackdown started in July 2022 with Doksani’s arrest in East London’s Isle of Dogs, where police saw a bag of cocaine thrown from a window. A second arrest followed in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, as more damning evidence came to light.
Fraud, Drug Supply, and Money Laundering Coffined With Prison
Doksani used fake passports to open bank accounts and launder money made from smuggling and drug trafficking. After pleading guilty to charges including illegal immigration facilitation, fraud, money laundering, and drug supply, he was sentenced to nine years and nine months at St Albans Crown Court.
He’s expected to be deported once his sentence ends. This case underscores the UK’s ongoing battle to smash sophisticated smuggling rings exploiting desperate migrants risking it all to reach British shores.
