Gang Boss Banged Up for 20 Years in UK Migrant Smuggling Crackdown
Middlesbrough Crime Kingpin Gets Heavy Sentence
Muhammad Zada, 43, the ringleader of a ruthless migrant smuggling gang, has been jailed for 20 years. The National Crime Agency (NCA) brought down Zada and five associates after a dramatic six-week trial.
Zada, from Middlesbrough, masterminded the illegal transport of migrants in vans and refrigerated lorries. His crew included Pareiz Abdullah, Khalid Mahmud, Marek Sochanic, Gurprit Khalon, and Bestoon Moslih—each playing key roles in ferrying desperate people from mainland Europe into the UK.
Hundreds Smuggled in Cold-Blooded Operation
Between 2017 and 2018, Zada coordinated at least five conspiracies that snuck 35 Iraqi-Kurdish and Vietnamese migrants from France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Investigators believe he likely smuggled hundreds more before being caught.
Each migrant paid between £5,000 and £10,000 to be stowed away in vehicles disguised as legitimate freight hauls.
Daring Smuggling Runs Foiled Across Europe
- In March 2017, a key arrest was made when Milan Sochanic, father of Marek, was stopped by French police at Calais with eight hidden migrants found in a furniture-packed van.
- Zada had bought the van and slapped ‘Milan Builders’ signage to fool officials.
- The gang also used a refrigerated lorry loaded with fruit and veg, stopped in Rotterdam where 12 migrants — including children as young as four — were found waiting to be smuggled.
- Other attempts involved hiding migrants in a campervan, bicycle boxes, and mattress shipments, all intercepted by law enforcement in France and Belgium.
Massive Police Operation Nets Key Players
In February 2018, around 350 officers from the NCA, North East Regional Organised Crime Unit, plus Cleveland, Durham, and Northumbria police raided the gang’s HQ. Zada was caught at his Wynyard home with his flashy £100k Range Rover parked outside.
Earlier, Zada had also been jailed for 5½ years for leading a cigarette smuggling gang that sneaked over two million illegal cigarettes into the UK hidden in fridge freezers.
Sentences and Manhunt Underway
- Zada, Khalon, Sochanic, and Abdullah were sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on 20 September.
- Zada copped 20 years; Sochanic and Abdullah got six years each; Khalon received seven years after pleading guilty.
- Sochanic and Zada were sentenced in absentia after fleeing before the trial. Police continue the hunt to bring them in.
- Bestoon Moslih and Khalid Mahmud’s sentencing is pending.
Official Comment: Tough Justice for Ruthless Smugglers
Martin Clarke, NCA Branch Commander: “Today’s outcome is the result of tireless efforts to dismantle people smuggling networks and ensure those treating people as commodities and putting lives at risk are put behind bars. The NCA alone has more than 70 ongoing investigations into top-tier organised immigration crime. Working with partners domestically and internationally remains key to tackling this threat.”
Arslan Khan, CPS Serious Economic Organised Crime Head: “These men risked lives for filthy cash. The prosecution presented a tough case across international borders, with some guilty pleas and hard-fought convictions. We will now target any proceeds gained from these crimes.”
