Lorry driver jailed for smuggling wanted criminal in back of truck
Caught red-handed in Ashford
A lorry driver has been slapped with a three-year prison sentence after trying to smuggle a fugitive out of the UK. Mohammed Alievski, 28, a Macedonian national, was nabbed by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in Ashford, Kent, during an intelligence-led raid on August 5.
Officers found a 22-year-old Albanian man hiding in the back of Alievski’s lorry. The man was on the run for breaking a court order linked to previous drug offences. Both men were immediately arrested.
Admits role in people-smuggling gang
Alievski later confessed to being part of an organised crime ring specialising in people smuggling. On November 10, Canterbury Crown Court locked him up for three years.
“This man was willing to smuggle a wanted criminal out of the country for money,” said Andrew MacGill, the NCA’s senior investigator.
MacGill warned how corrupt lorry drivers are key players in smuggling networks and vowed the NCA would keep smashing these rings.
NCA calls on haulage workers to stay alert
It’s no secret criminal gangs target haulage workers, dangling cash to help their shady deals. The NCA is urging anyone in the haulage industry who’s been approached or has info on people-smuggling to ring 101 or report anonymously to Crimestoppers.
