A Turkish national has been slammed with an 11-year prison sentence for funneling hundreds of small boats and engines to people smugglers ferrying asylum seekers across the English Channel.
Massive Smuggling Operation Busted
Adem Savas, 45, was caught after landing at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport in November 2024. He faced trial in Bruges, Belgium, accused of supplying crucial equipment to a well-oiled people smuggling racket.
The court heard how Savas shipped boats from Turkey and stashed them in Germany before they were moved to northern France, where smugglers used them to cross the Channel.
Heavy Fines and Asset Seizure
Savas was slapped with a hefty €400,000 (£346,000) fine. Authorities also seized $100,000 (£74,000) of his assets as part of the crackdown.
Three other gang members were sentenced in absentia to 12 and 13 years in jail and fined an eye-watering €600,000 (£520,000). Arrest warrants have been issued for them.
Crackdown on Channel Smugglers Continues
The sentencing marks a major victory in the battle against dangerous Channel crossings and the criminal gangs behind them. Officials vow to keep targeting the networks fuelling this deadly trade.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
