A suspected people smuggler wanted by German law enforcement has been apprehended by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in Leicestershire

Syrian national Mohamad Alshater, 30, was arrested in the Frog Island area of Leicester city centre on Monday, 2 December, following extensive joint investigations between UK and German authorities. Alshater is alleged to have been involved in a network responsible for transporting a large number of migrants into Germany via vehicles crossing the Czech-German border.

The arrest came after a warrant was issued for Alshater, with NCA officers from the Joint International Crime Centre’s National Extradition Unit tracking and locating the suspect.

On Tuesday, 3 December, Alshater was remanded in custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, with extradition proceedings now underway. He is scheduled to appear in court again on 10 December.

Tony Allen from the NCA’s Joint International Crime Centre emphasized the international nature of such criminal activities, stating, “People smuggling is an international crime and we are working closely with our counterparts in Germany and across Europe to target the individuals and networks involved.”

Allen added, “These crime groups treat people as a commodity and don’t care about the risks, which is why tackling them is such a priority.”