A man once described by French authorities as a key figure in migrant camps has been living in Leicestershire, despite being convicted and sentenced to five years in prison in France in 2016. Twana Jamal, an Iraqi Kurd with multiple aliases, is believed to be seeking asylum in the UK while allegedly engaging in illegal work, according to a BBC investigation.
Jamal's involvement in people smuggling operations was previously highlighted by French prosecutors, who estimated that he earned up to £100,000 per week from moving migrants across the Channel. The authorities identified Jamal as one of the most successful people smugglers ever apprehended and found him to be operating out of the Grand Synthe camp near Dunkirk between 2012 and 2016.
At his trial in France, it emerged that Jamal charged around £4,500-£5,000 per person for passage to the UK, primarily via freight lorries at the time. The BBC investigation has now revealed that Jamal is living in the village of Blaby, working despite not having a driving licence and using a false name.
The case raises significant concerns about the effectiveness of current border control measures in scrutinising asylum seekers with serious criminal records. Immigration officers have reportedly found it increasingly difficult to obtain criminal records from some nations since the UK's departure from the EU. European law enforcement officials also informed the BBC that at least 15 other convicted people smugglers are believed to be living in the UK under assumed identities.
Under UK law, individuals who have served 12 months or more in prison overseas typically face a mandatory refusal of asylum. However, it appears that Jamal's criminal record may not have been checked or that he entered the UK using one of his multiple aliases. When confronted by the BBC, Jamal claimed to be awaiting a decision on his asylum application.
His case is part of a broader investigation into people smuggling and raises concerns about public confidence in the integrity of the asylum system and the UK's ability to monitor individuals with serious criminal backgrounds. The Home Office has not commented publicly on individual cases, but the situation is likely to prompt further scrutiny of screening processes for asylum applicants.