A human trafficking ring was revealed when a yacht carrying migrants ran aground along the Sussex coastline, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Evidence gathered from mobile phones belonging to individuals on board led to the apprehension of two men linked to smuggling activities involving small boats, trucks, and the yacht itself.
Mohammed Ali Nareman, a 37-year-old resident of Barnet, London, appeared in a trial of facts at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Ali Omar Karim, 47, from Portsmouth, admitted guilt to charges of people smuggling in August 2024.
Both men are scheduled to receive their sentences on January 8. Although a jury determined that Nareman had committed the offenses, he will not face imprisonment, as the trial of facts does not amount to a criminal conviction.
A judge had deemed this Iraqi national unfit for trial due to his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder, panic attacks, and depression, which prevented him from being cross-examined or consulting with defense attorneys.
The NCA reported that 14 individuals from Iran, Iraq, and Albania were detained following the yacht’s grounding near Rye in February 2022.
Footage on their phones depicted them onboard the yacht, featuring a message that read, “We are all Hama Kalari’s passengers; thank the great God, we are now in the water.”
Nareman’s phone records indicated he had arrived in Rye on the same day, while Karim’s device revealed each migrant was charged £1,000 for entry into the EU and additional fees for reaching the UK.
Their communications included discussions about weather conditions, small boat journeys, and a £24,000 fee for smuggling individuals into the UK via a lorry.
Rachel Bramley from the NCA commented, “Mohammed Ali Nareman played a prominent role in the illicit people-smuggling trade.
“Messages exchanged with Karim highlighted their contempt for the individuals they were transporting—they viewed them solely as commodities for profit.
“Our investigators uncovered a significant digital footprint that traced months of planning for crossings using both small boats and heavy goods vehicles, sharing routes and fees, celebrating their successes in migrant videos, and boasting about their profits.”
