A convicted people smuggler once described as 'the godfather' of French migrant camps is living in Leicestershire and believed to be seeking asylum while working illegally, a BBC investigation has revealed. Twana Jamal, 46, was sentenced to five years in prison in France in 2016 for earning up to £100,000 a week smuggling migrants across the English Channel.
Reporters traced Jamal to the village of Blaby, where they witnessed him working, driving without a licence and apparently using a false name. According to law enforcement officials, 15 other convicted people smugglers are now living in the UK under false names.
In a call arranged under false pretences, Jamal boasted: 'We know everyone in this city, this city is ours. Making good money... no one touches us here.' He said he was not worried about being caught, claiming 'even the police won't stop you'.
Jamal's presence raises concerns about border controls and the ability to check criminal records of asylum seekers from other countries. Immigration officers told the BBC that since the UK left the European Union, it has become more difficult to verify criminal records from some nations.
