A British pensioner who tried to sneak two Afghan migrants into the UK in the boot of his car has been jailed for four years.
UK Border Force caught Rashida Ayub, 69, and his two hidden passengers as they tried to get through border control in Coquelles, near Calais.
When the Afghan nationals were found crammed into the back of Ayub’s Kia Sportage, the pensioner was arrested on-site.
An investigation into his finances and his mobile phone’s data unveiled two more members of his people smuggling gang – Jumagaul Mohamadi, 57, and Wshiar Sarteep, 31.
As well as Ayub’s four-year sentence, Mohamadi and Sarteep were jailed for 32 months each after a trial at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester.
British pensioner Rashida Ayub, 69, has been jailed for four years after he was caught trying to sneak two Afghan migrants into the UK in the boot of his Kia Sportage (seen on bodycam footage)
An investigation into his finances and his mobile phone’s data unveiled two more members of his people smuggling gang – Jumagaul Mohamadi (left), 57, and Wshiar Sarteep (right), 31
The trio’s trial at Minshull Street Crown Court (seen), Manchester, was delayed twice due to Covid-19, with over seven years having now passed since Ayub was caught
The court heard how on January 29, 2017, UK Border Force officers found the migrants during a search of Ayub’s car, which was bound for the UK.
His trial, alongside his associates, was twice delayed due to Covid-19.
Their sentencing is the latest development in an extensive investigation launched by Home Office Criminal and Financial investigators into people smuggling routes into the UK.
Home Office Criminal Investigation Supervisor, Paul Moran said: ‘Thousands of pounds were exchanged to smuggle these people into the country, with total disregard for their safety and welfare. They were crammed inside the boot to allow it to close.
‘As with many smuggling operations we encounter, the sole priority of these criminals is financial gain, at the expense of those they exploit under false promises. I am delighted our teams have stopped them from succeeding.
‘We will continue to work tirelessly to secure our borders and clamp down on the gangs who heartlessly endanger vulnerable people to make money.’
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