Five immigration enforcement officers have been charged with conspiracy to steal cash from migrants arriving on small boats at Dover, a court has heard. A sixth officer faces separate money laundering charges in a case that has exposed alleged corruption within border operations.
Details of the Alleged Conspiracy
The defendants, identified as Besmir Matera (36), Jack Mitchell (33), Lee-Ann Evanson (42), John Bernthal (53), and Ben Edwardes (45), are accused of working together to steal money from vulnerable migrants. David Grundy (43) faces charges of money laundering offences allegedly committed between August 2021 and November 2022.
Additional Charges Against Matera
Besmir Matera faces further serious allegations beyond the theft conspiracy. The Albanian national has been charged with entering the UK illegally between July 2003 and March 2004 after allegedly forging an asylum application with false personal details. Prosecutors claim he entered Britain on a school trip while falsely claiming Kosovan nationality.
Matera also faces charges of possessing false passports between 2011 and 2022 and a counterfeit driving licence between 2018 and 2022, adding multiple layers to his legal predicament.
Court Proceedings and Prosecution Claims
All six defendants, who hail from London, Berkshire, Surrey, and Kent, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court where the details of the alleged conspiracy were outlined. Prosecutor Ms Earis explained that the defendants worked together in the immigration enforcement clandestine operation response team, specifically dealing with migrants arriving via small boats across the English Channel.
'The Crown alleges that they conspired together to steal cash from migrants on small boats,' Ms Earis told the court. 'Many of the migrants travel to the UK with relatively large amounts of cash. When the defendants became aware of that, they worked together to take that money from the cells and share it.'
Investigation and Bail Conditions
The investigation was conducted by Home Office anti-corruption investigators over a fifteen-month period between August 2021 and November 2022. District Judge Paul Goldspring informed each defendant they would face indictable-only offences and granted them conditional bail with strict conditions.
'Each of you will enjoy your bail,' Judge Goldspring warned. 'If you do not turn up at your next hearing you will be committing a separate offence which will be treated more seriously.'
The defendants have been ordered not to contact prosecution witnesses ahead of their next appearance. A plea and trial preparation hearing has been scheduled for February 26 at Southwark Crown Court, where the case will progress through the judicial system.
Broader Implications for Border Security
This case raises significant questions about integrity within immigration enforcement operations, particularly concerning the treatment of vulnerable migrants arriving via dangerous Channel crossings. The allegations suggest systematic abuse of position by officers entrusted with processing new arrivals, with prosecutors claiming the stolen funds were converted into criminal property after being taken from detention cells.
The Home Office investigation highlights ongoing concerns about corruption within border agencies and the vulnerability of migrants who often carry their life savings when making perilous journeys to British shores.
