The brother of a Kurdish people smuggler has been jailed for helping his sibling transport migrants to the UK.
Anjan Ahmadi, 27, worked with Amanj Hasan Zada, who was seen in a video of a party in 2021 being feted as “the best people smuggler” by musicians as he fired a gun into the air.
Zada, 35, was the head of a criminal network of smugglers that ran from Turkey into mainland Europe and then on to the UK.
He was arrested in May 2024 at his home in Preston, northern England, which he shared with Ahmadi, who was his driver. The gang used social media to advertise their services to would-be migrants.
Evidence found by National Crime Agency investigators showed that Ahmadi played a critical role in Zada’s group, keeping contact with migrants and booking travel tickets for their journey.
Conversations recorded by NCA officers showed the pair were in contact with a number of other smugglers in Europe and Iraqi Kurdistan.
Ahmadi was arrested in July 2024 after evidence implicating him in the gang was found.
Following his arrest, investigators found a recorded conversation with a person who wanted to travel to the UK with his relatives but “not by dinghy” on his phone.
Ahmadi referred the man to another smuggler, who dealt with lorries, saying “go with my name”. He pleaded guilty to facilitating illegal immigration to both the UK and EU, and was jailed following a hearing at Preston Crown Court.
Martin Clarke, an NCA branch commander, said the jailing of Ahmadi showed how the organisation is “targeting people smugglers at every step from their operations in the UK right the way back to source countries where they previously thought they were untouchable”.
In November 2024, Zada was jailed for 17 years after investigators linked him to three separate crossings made from France to the UK in November and December 2023.
Each involved Kurdish migrants who had travelled through Eastern Europe, into Germany, Belgium and then France.
A video, found on YouTube by the NCA and thought to have been recorded in Iraq in 2021, showed Zada at a party with musicians singing a song in Kurdish in which they praise him as “the best smuggler”.
They sing that “all the other smugglers have learnt from him”, as he throws money at them and fires a gun in the air.
Following Zada’s conviction, the NCA joined an operation in Iraqi Kurdistan, where another three members of the network were arrested in Sulaymaniyah in January.
It is the first time that the NCA has worked alongside the internal security agencies in Kurdistan, after the signing of an agreement with Iraq for its law enforcement officers to operate in the region.
Mr Clarke was part of the team who flew out to the Kurdistan region to assist with the arrest operation.
Those detained include a 38-year-old man accused of co-ordinating the movements of more than a dozen yachts taking migrants into Greece and Italy. Each boat would carry 60 to 70 people, who would then be moved on to northern Europe or the UK.
A Hawala banker in his 40s, accused of processing transactions on behalf of Zada, and another man in his 30s, suspected of being a middleman gathering migrants for movement by Zada’s network, have also been held.
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Smart words at Make Smart Cool
Make Smart Cool is not your usual festival. Dubbed “edutainment” by organisers Najahi Events, Make Smart Cool aims to inspire its youthful target audience through a mix of interactive presentation by social media influencers and a concert finale featuring Example with DJ Wire. Here are some of the speakers sharing their inspiration and experiences on the night.
Prince Ea
With his social media videos accumulating more half a billion views, the American motivational speaker is hot on the college circuit in the US, with talks that focus on the many ways to generate passion and motivation when it comes to learning.
Khalid Al Ameri
The Emirati columnist and presenter is much loved by local youth, with writings and presentations about education, entrepreneurship and family balance. His lectures on career and personal development are sought after by the education and business sector.
Ben Ouattara
Born to an Ivorian father and German mother, the Dubai-based fitness instructor and motivational speaker is all about conquering fears and insecurities. His talk focuses on the need to gain emotional and physical fitness when facing life’s challenges. As well managing his film production company, Ouattara is one of the official ambassadors of Dubai Expo2020.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
'Munich: The Edge of War'
Director: Christian Schwochow
Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons
Rating: 3/5
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Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier, in Bangkok
UAE fixtures Mon Nov 20, v China; Tue Nov 21, v Thailand; Thu Nov 23, v Nepal; Fri Nov 24, v Hong Kong; Sun Nov 26, v Malaysia; Mon Nov 27, Final
(The winners will progress to the Global Qualifier)
Need to know
Unlike other mobile wallets and payment apps, a unique feature of eWallet is that there is no need to have a bank account, credit or debit card to do digital payments.
Customers only need a valid Emirates ID and a working UAE mobile number to register for eWallet account.
The Abu Dhabi Awards explained:
What are the awards? They honour anyone who has made a contribution to life in Abu Dhabi.
Are they open to only Emiratis? The awards are open to anyone, regardless of age or nationality, living anywhere in the world.
When do nominations close? The process concludes on December 31.
How do I nominate someone? Through the website.
When is the ceremony? The awards event will take place early next year.
