Seven men have been jailed for attempting to smuggle Albanian migrants across the English Channel in overcrowded boats, in what a judge described as an 'alarmingly amateur' operation. The gang, which included father and son Leonard and Alfie Powell, was sentenced at the Old Bailey to between six and nine years in prison.
The plot, mainly based in Dymchurch, Kent, was uncovered after a series of blunders, including the use of three-person jet skis. One boat designed for six people carried 20 individuals, including 18 Albanian migrants, and had to be rescued after nearly sinking.
Judge Mark Dennis QC said the intended crossings 'could have resulted in tragic consequences at sea'. The National Crime Agency's Brendon Foreman added: 'What this group were attempting was reckless and wilfully negligent of the risks associated with crossing one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.'
Leonard Powell, 66, received the longest sentence of nine years. Others jailed include Artur Nutaj (seven years six months), Sabah Dulaj (seven years), George Powell (six years nine months), Alfie Powell (six years), Wayne Bath (six years), and Albert Letchford (six years).
