Two Ukrainian men have been convicted for running a high-end people-smuggling operation using a luxury yacht to ferry migrants from France to the UK. Vladyslav Cherniavskyi, 37, and Oleksandr Yavtushenko, 43, were caught after the National Crime Agency (NCA) tracked their vessel, the Uforia, sailing from Le Havre.
Specialist Border Security maritime officers intercepted the yacht off the Isle of Wight and escorted it to Haslar Marina, Hampshire. Onboard were five migrants – four Albanian men and one Vietnamese woman. One of the men was already wanted in the UK for failing to appear in court over drug offences, confirming his illegal status.
Investigations revealed that two migrants had been housed in a French hotel before being picked up by the yacht. One migrant paid £16,000 for the perilous Channel crossing, while another was due to pay £13,000 upon arrival in the UK.
Working closely with the French Gendarmerie and Home Office intelligence, the NCA uncovered a series of previous journeys made by the Uforia between summer 2024 and 2025, with stops at Brighton and other south coast marinas.
Cherniavskyi owned the yacht, and Yavtushenko acted as skipper. Both pleaded guilty to facilitating illegal immigration at Portsmouth Crown Court last November. Cherniavskyi was sentenced to six years in prison, and Yavtushenko received a five-year sentence. The luxury yacht Uforia was seized by authorities.
NCA Branch Commander Saju Sasikumar said: “They ran what can only be described as a ferry service, moving small groups for a premium price. They stood to make tens of thousands each trip, but we stopped them in their tracks with our French partners. Disrupting these gangs remains a top priority.”
Border Security Commander Maritime Charlie Eastaugh added: “These smugglers treated the Channel like a luxury taxi route, charging tens of thousands for what was no holiday. Thanks to dedicated teams in the UK and France, we ended this dangerous operation. Anyone involved in people trafficking will face serious consequences.”
Crown Prosecution Service Specialist Prosecutor Tim Burton said: “Cherniavskyi and Yavtushenko ran a blatant illegal migrant taxi across the Channel. The NCA caught them red-handed, backed by French evidence. They knowingly brought in people with no legal right to be here to line their pockets.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
