An Iraqi-born people smuggler who boasted of making $2 million arranging for migrants to cross the English Channel illegally in small boats has been sentenced to nearly five years in jail.
Pistiwan Jameel, 55, who came to the UK from Iraq in 2002, had contacts with people-smuggling gangs in France and would broker spaces for his clients while also collecting payments in the UK.
Investigators from the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) believe Jameel, who lived in the city of Birmingham, was behind dozens of cross-Channel journeys. The Iraqi-Kurd pleaded guilty to two charges of organising illegal immigration.
He was quite happy to risk other people’s lives in flimsy boats at sea, as long as he got paid
Kevin Broadhead,
National Crime Agency commander
But NCA branch commander Kevin Broadhead revealed: "The scale of Pistiwan Jameel’s offending was likely far wider than just the crossings he was charged over. The information we uncovered during our investigation suggests he was prolific and was operating over a considerable amount of time."
The NCA began tracking him after the phone of Albanian associate Fiorentino Halilaj, 25, who had himself crossed the Channel, was seized by the immigration authorities and handed to its investigators. Jameel's number was found on his phone.
Investigators were then able to record conversations Jameel had with criminal associates, in which he arranged crossings for his customers, often referring to migrants as “pigeons" or “sticks”.
In one conversation, Jameel claimed to have made at least $2 million for his criminal networks through his contacts, though in another he complained that competition in the people-smuggling market was driving prices down, the NCA said.
“The way in which he talked about the people he was smuggling and the profits he was making demonstrated he was only in it for the money," Mr Broadhead said. "He was quite happy to risk other people’s lives in flimsy boats at sea, as long as he got paid."
Jameel’s phone was found to contain information and messages relating to up to 50 people who had entered the UK illegally on small boats during 2022 and 2023, including images taken on boats in the Channel.
Officers also heard him suggest he was involved in moving a migrant to Turkey from the Middle East and expected to earn about $10,000 from the enterprise alone.
NCA surveillance officers watched as Jameel met one client, Albanian citizen Artan Halilaj, 39, in Birmingham on September 1, 2023. A handover of cash took place and shortly afterwards Jameel made a phone call in which he was heard to say he had “my three passengers, all good to go, all OK”.
Artan Halilaj was organising passage for his relative Fiorentino Halilaj, who crossed the Channel in a small boat the following day.
Artan Halilaj, who at the time was living in Southall, west London, had himself arrived on a small boat from Belgium earlier that year. He was claiming asylum but disappeared from the hotel where he was supposed to be staying as his application was processed by the Home Office.
Artan Halilaj and Jameel were arrested by NCA officers on October 23, 2023, while Fiorentino Halilaj was arrested the following day at the immigration centre where he was being held.
Artan and Fiorentino Halilaj were both charged with one count of facilitating illegal immigration, while Jameel was charged with two counts.
Jameel and Fiorentino Halilaj pleaded guilty, while Artan Halilaj denied involvement but was found guilty after a week-long trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
At the same court on Monday, Jameel was sentenced to four years and ten months in prison, Artan Halilaj was sentenced to three and a half years, and Fiorentino Halilaj to two and a half years.
The NCA says it is currently leading about 70 investigations into people or networks involved in the top tier of organised immigration crime or human trafficking, using a range of tactics.
The sentencing of the Iraqi-Kurd comes as NCA officers took part in an operation to arrest three suspected people smugglers in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, an area which in recent years has become a centre for the people-smuggling business.
The arrests follow a deal struck between the UK and Iraq at the end of last year to allow British law enforcement officers to work in the region.
How to keep control of your emotions
If your investment decisions are being dictated by emotions such as fear, greed, hope, frustration and boredom, it is time for a rethink, Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, says.
Greed
Greedy investors trade beyond their means, open more positions than usual or hold on to positions too long to chase an even greater gain. “All too often, they incur a heavy loss and may even wipe out the profit already made.
Tip: Ignore the short-term hype, noise and froth and invest for the long-term plan, based on sound fundamentals.
Fear
The risk of making a loss can cloud decision-making. “This can cause you to close out a position too early, or miss out on a profit by being too afraid to open a trade,” he says.
Tip: Start with a plan, and stick to it. For added security, consider placing stops to reduce any losses and limits to lock in profits.
Hope
While all traders need hope to start trading, excessive optimism can backfire. Too many traders hold on to a losing trade because they believe that it will reverse its trend and become profitable.
Tip: Set realistic goals. Be happy with what you have earned, rather than frustrated by what you could have earned.
Frustration
Traders can get annoyed when the markets have behaved in unexpected ways and generates losses or fails to deliver anticipated gains.
Tip: Accept in advance that asset price movements are completely unpredictable and you will suffer losses at some point. These can be managed, say, by attaching stops and limits to your trades.
Boredom
Too many investors buy and sell because they want something to do. They are trading as entertainment, rather than in the hope of making money. As well as making bad decisions, the extra dealing charges eat into returns.
Tip: Open an online demo account and get your thrills without risking real money.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
The biog
Age: 23
Occupation: Founder of the Studio, formerly an analyst at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
Education: Bachelor of science in industrial engineering
Favourite hobby: playing the piano
Favourite quote: "There is a key to every door and a dawn to every dark night"
Family: Married and with a daughter
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S23%20ULTRA
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
