Smugglers’ Reign Ends: Man Jailed 11 Years for Small Boat People Smuggling
A major crackdown on people smuggling has landed a key ringleader behind bars. Hewa Rahimpur, 30, an Iranian national, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for masterminding a small boats smuggling network.
Mastermind Busted Across Europe
The National Crime Agency (NCA) arrested Rahimpur, who orchestrated the operation from northern France. His gang charged migrants £3,000 to £6,000 for dangerous Channel crossings.
The investigation kicked off after Belgian police seized boats and engines near the Belgian-French border in October 2021. Phone checks linked the drivers to a UK number traced to Rahimpur.
Rahimpur was caught in Wanstead Park, London, on 4 May 2022. That sparked a Europe-wide sweep, landing dozens in jail across the UK, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. German cops found 60 inflatable boats and hundreds of life jackets stashed for the gang.
Justice in Bruges: Smuggling Empire Crumbles
Extradited to Belgium, Rahimpur faced trial in Bruges. On 18 October, the judge slammed him with an 11-year sentence. Another 19 gang members got jail terms between 2.5 and 8 years.
Craig Turner, NCA Deputy Director of Investigations said: “This is a stunning example of law enforcement across Europe working together to stop these ruthless gangs exploiting the UK border and putting lives at risk.”
Ongoing Fight Against Organised Immigration Crime
Turner revealed the NCA is currently investigating nearly 90 high-level immigration crime cases, including those involving small boats and lorries. The fight to shut down these deadly networks is far from over.
