In a significant victory against human smuggling, a man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for leading a small boats people smuggling network. Hewa Rahimpur, a 30-year-old individual of Iranian origin, was arrested by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and was found guilty by a judge in Bruges, Belgium.
Rahimpur was the mastermind behind the criminal organisation, directing the network from his residence in Ilford, east London. His operation involved sourcing boats from Turkey and arranging their delivery to various locations in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Once the boats reached these destinations, other members of the organisation would transport migrants to the northern French coast.
The investigation into Rahimpur’s network began when Belgian police seized a number of boats and outboard motors near the Belgian-French border in October 2021. Phone analysis revealed that the drivers of the vehicles had been in contact with a UK-based phone number, which was later traced back to Rahimpur.
NCA officers apprehended Rahimpur in Wanstead Park on 4 May 2022, leading to a Europe-wide operation that resulted in arrests in the UK, Germany, France, and the Netherlands in July 2022. In Germany, authorities seized 60 inflatable boats and hundreds of life jackets that were intended for use by the gang.
The extradition process saw Rahimpur facing trial in Bruges, where prosecutors accused him of engaging in “systematic human smuggling” and charging migrants between £3,000 and £6,000 for the perilous crossings. On Wednesday, 18 October, the judge in Bruges delivered a verdict, finding Rahimpur guilty and sentencing him to 11 years in prison. Additionally, 19 others involved in the network received prison sentences ranging from 30 months to eight years.
NCA Deputy Director of Investigations, Craig Turner, praised the successful collaboration between law enforcement agencies across Europe. He emphasised the NCA’s commitment to disrupting and dismantling dangerous people smuggling gangs that exploit the UK border and endanger human lives. Turner also revealed that the NCA is actively investigating around 90 cases related to high-level organised immigration crime, including those involving boats and HGVs.
