‘Hama Kalari’ Ran Ruthless People-Smuggling Network
Mohammed Ali Nareman, 37, from London, was slammed for running a people-smuggling racket using HGV lorries, small boats, and even a yacht to ferry migrants across the English Channel. Known to migrants as ‘Hama Kalari’, Nareman escaped a full trial after being declared unfit due to depression, panic attacks, and PTSD. Instead, a trial of facts took place at Maidstone Crown Court on October 14.
Accomplice Controls HGV Smugglers
Nareman’s partner-in-crime, Ali Omar Karim, 47, from Portsmouth, admitted guilt in June 2023 for managing a network of HGV smugglers. Karim is set for sentencing on January 8, 2026, while Nareman stays in custody until the same date.
The Dramatic Rye Harbour Yacht Incident
On February 12, 2022, a 20ft blue yacht ran aground near Rye Harbour, East Sussex. Shocking footage showed migrants leaping from the listing boat into the River Rye, fighting for safety. Border Force swooped in and rounded up 14 migrants — including two children — from Iran, Iraq, and Albania within two hours.
Translated videos recorded onboard revealed migrants saying, “we are all Hama Kalari’s passengers, thank the great God now we are in the water.” One migrant’s contact with Nareman led to his April 2023 arrest.
Evidence Seals Nareman’s Fate
Nareman’s phone revealed a clear trail: images of French and British coastlines, migrant passports, and even a snap of him flashing £50,000 in cash. His chats exposed smuggling deals, route planning, and disputes with fellow criminals.
“Mohammed Ali Nareman was extremely prolific in the criminal world of people smuggling,” said Rachel Bramley from the National Crime Agency (NCA). “They saw the people they transported as nothing more than commodities to rake in cash. We found months of digital evidence proving their extensive activity and boasting.”
The NCA’s dive into their digital footprint exposed how this gang ruthlessly exploited desperate migrants for profit. Justice trails on as both men await sentencing early next year.
