Suspected People Smuggler Nabbed in Leicester
A wanted people smuggler linked to a migrant trafficking ring has been caught by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in Leicestershire.
Mohamad Alshater, 30, a Syrian national, was arrested in Leicester city centre’s Frog Island on Monday, 2 December. He is accused of running a network smuggling migrants into Germany across the Czech-German border using vehicles.
UK and German Police Team Up to Snare Fugitive
The arrest followed a joint investigation between UK and German law enforcement. The NCA’s Joint International Crime Centre’s National Extradition Unit tracked down Alshater after a warrant was issued.
On Tuesday, 3 December, he was remanded in custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Extradition proceedings are now underway, with a return to court scheduled for 10 December.
NCA Sounds Alarm on Ruthless Smuggling Gangs
“People smuggling is an international crime and we are working closely with our counterparts in Germany and across Europe to target the individuals and networks involved,” said Tony Allen from the NCA’s Joint International Crime Centre.
“These crime groups treat people as a commodity and don’t care about the risks, which is why tackling them is such a priority.”
