Taxi Gang Busted for Smuggling Migrants to France in Lorry Scheme
Four taxi drivers linked to a ruthless people-smuggling ring have been jailed following a National Crime Agency (NCA) crackdown. The gang ferried illegal migrants from London to lorries waiting in Kent, bound for France.
Kingpin Made £290,000 Running Migrant Smuggling Network
Madjid Belabes, 54, the ringleader, pocketed nearly £290,000 by arranging 26 migrant runs between December 2022 and September 2023. Charging £1,200 per trip, the Algerian-born Camberwell resident organised the movement of North African migrants from the UK to mainland Europe.
Belabes’ gang targeted migrants from Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco, who initially entered the UK on tourist visas — using the country as a stepping stone to illegally enter France. One doomed attempt saw 58 migrants crammed into lorries uncovered by French officials.
Belabes was jailed for 10 years and nine months last November for people smuggling and possessing criminal property, including £11,000 in cash.
Taxi Drivers Played Key Role in Smuggling Operation
- Samir Zerguine, 52
- Mourad Bouchlaghem, 44
- Mohamed Mabrouk, 44
- Mohamed Issaoun, 50
- Said Bouazza, 56 (unemployed, one trip only)
These Algerian nationals, all taxi drivers, admitted charges of participating in an organised crime group. They shuttled migrants from London to lorries in quiet lay-bys and service stations in Kent for the next leg to France.
Belabes relied on taxis because multiple migrants inside a cab could more easily avoid police suspicion. Evidence included call and text logs linking the drivers to Belabes and CCTV footage showing Mourad Bouchlaghem meeting the kingpin and loading people into cars.
Officials Warn of Grave Dangers and Ongoing Crackdown
“These criminal networks treat human beings like commodities. Tackling organised immigration crime is a key priority for the NCA,” said John Turner, senior NCA investigator.
“Smuggling people across borders in lorries is highly dangerous but thankfully in this case it was not fatal. These five men played their part in an organised crime ring out of pure greed and selfishness,” added CPS prosecutor Andrew Hudson.
The NCA continues to join forces with international partners to disrupt these deadly smuggling rings and protect vulnerable migrants from exploitation.
