Dmytro Kruik was so sure that he could smuggle six illegal immigrants into Britain that he even took a selfie while on the yacht
A sailor who tried to smuggle six illegal immigrants into the country was so confident he even took a selfie while on the yacht he used.
Dmytro Kruik, 29, snapped the selfie as he and friend Vladyslav Kurtoglu, 50, attempted to bring the six Ukrainian men into Britain on their yacht, the Tazik.
The pair were attempting to sail from Barfleur in Normandy, France, to Hayling Island, Hampshire, when they were stopped by a Border Force coastal patrol vessel.
Officers on board the Border Force boat escorted the yacht to the harbour in Hayling Island, where they discovered the six Ukrainian men on the vessel.
Portsmouth Crown Court heard Kurtoglu had been the captain of the Tazik, while Kruik had acted as his deck hand as they tried to smuggle in the men on May 20 last year.
When the pair were interviewed, Kruik claimed they were not smuggling illegal immigrants into the country, but had instead been on ‘just a trip’.
However, when officials checked his phone they discovered the selfie and a reconnaissance video from the harbour where the immigrants boarded the boat.
Kruik could be heard in the video, which was filmed on April 21 last year, saying there were no CCTV cameras in the area.
Dmytro Kruik and his friend Vladyslav Kurtoglu were attempting to sail from Barfleur in Normandy, France, to Hayling Island, Hampshire, when they were stopped by a Border Force coastal patrol vessel
The court heard Kurtoglu had claimed he had just bought the yacht and was planning to hold his birthday party on it.
He said he intended to hire the Ukrainians as crew for the event.
But, he said once they were sailing the crew turned on him, telling him they would throw him overboard if he did not sail to the UK.
Kruik admitted one count of assisting unlawful immigration, while Kurtoglu, who denied the same charge, was convicted after a trial.
They are both Ukranian nationals.
Lyn Sari, from Immigration Enforcement’s Criminal and Financial Investigation team, said: ‘The video on Kruik’s phone is indicative of the planning and organisation that went into this attempt.
Officers on board the Border Force boat escorted the yacht to the harbour in Hayling Island, where they discovered the six Ukrainian men on the vessel
Kruik admitted one count of assisting unlawful immigration, while Kurtoglu, who denied the same charge, was convicted after a trial. Pictured: Men being led from a Border Force vessel
‘I cannot think of a reason why you would record such a film and comment approvingly on the lack of security cameras unless your intentions were criminal.
‘The reality was that these men were engaged in a quite deliberate attempt to undermine the UK’s immigration laws.
‘My officers work closely with other law enforcement partners, such as the National Crime Agency, to bring people smugglers like Kurtoglu and Kruik to justice.
‘Anyone involved in this kind of offending should understand that the consequences are considerable.’