British pensioner among gang jailed for attempting to smuggle migrants into UK in boot of Kia Sportage

A British pensioner was among three members of a people smuggling gang jailed on Thursday - more than seven years after being caught attempting to sneak two Afghan migrants into Britain in the boot of a car.

British national Rashida Ayub, 69, and Afghan nationals Jumagaul Mohamadi, 57, and Wshiar Sarteep, 31, received sentences totalling more than 10 years during a hearing at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester.

UK Border Force officers conducting searches in Coquelles, France found two men crammed into the boot of a Kia Sportage, which was being driven by Ayub on January 29, 2017.Ayub, who had been driving to the UK, was arrested at the scene.

An investigation into his finances and mobile phone data led officers to identify Mohamadi and Sarteep as further members of the trafficking gang, the Home Office said.

The trio were found guilty of facilitating the commission of a breach of UK immigration law during a trial earlier this year.

It had been delayed twice because of Covid restrictions and the ensuing courts backlog.

All three were remanded until Thursday August 22. Ayub was sentenced to four years in prison, Mohamadi to three years and six months and Sarteep to 32 months.

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.”