Twana Jamal, an Iraqi Kurd once described as 'one of the most successful people smugglers ever caught', is living in the Leicestershire village of Blaby and claiming asylum while working illegally, according to a BBC investigation. Jamal was convicted in 2016 for organising dangerous crossings across the English Channel and sentenced to five years in prison. He was known in the migrant camps as 'Pasha', a Turkish term for senior rank.
Current status and illegal activities
The investigation alleges that Jamal has been seen working, driving a car without a licence, and apparently using a false name. When confronted by the BBC, he confirmed he had applied for asylum and was 'still waiting'. Seemingly unbothered about his past, he boasted: 'We know everyone in this city, this city is ours.'
Background and smuggling operations
French prosecutors linked Jamal to the Ranya Boys, a Kurdish organised crime group that European law enforcement agencies say played a leading role in Channel smuggling operations over the past 15 years. Evidence at his trial showed he was based at the Grand-Synthe camp near Dunkirk from around 2012 to 2016, charging migrants between £4,500 and £5,000 for passage to Britain. At that time, smuggling methods relied on freight lorries rather than the small boats now commonly used.
Immigration system concerns
Ordinarily, those who have spent more than a year in prison overseas would automatically be refused asylum. In Jamal's case, authorities may have been unaware of his past or criminal record, or he may have used a false name. The revelations highlight the UK's ability to track and monitor those who have arrived by irregular means.
Government response and migration statistics
Net migration to the UK has fallen by 48% over the last 12 months, while asylum applications dropped to 93,525 between April 2025 and March 2026, a 12% decrease. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has promised new legislation to manage migration, including making asylum seekers contribute financially towards their accommodation. The Home Office told the BBC: 'All asylum claimants are subject to mandatory security checks to confirm their identity for the purpose of immigration, security and criminality checks.' They added that the UK has 'a number of agreements with countries which enable the sharing of criminal record information', and that immigration enforcement action is at its highest level in history, with arrests for illegal working up 83%.
