Alleged Human Trafficking Mastermind Operating Illegally in UK, BBC Investigation Reveals

A BBC investigation has exposed the presence of a notorious human trafficking figure, previously dubbed the "godfather" of illegal immigrant camps in France, who is now living and working unlawfully in the United Kingdom. The individual, identified as Twana Jamal, a 36-year-old Kurdish-Iraqi national at the time of his imprisonment, was sentenced to five years in prison by a French court in 2016. French prosecutors described him as one of the "most successful human traffickers" they had encountered, alleging he could earn up to £100,000 per week by facilitating the passage of illegal immigrants across the English Channel. The BBC's findings, stemming from a secret tip-off this year, led their team to locate Jamal in the village of Blaby. He was filmed engaging in illegal work, driving without a valid license, and using a false name to apply for asylum. His presence in the UK raises significant questions and concerns about the effectiveness of the UK's border control and its ability to vet asylum seekers. Immigration officials informed the BBC that verifying criminal records of foreigners from other countries has become more complex since the UK's departure from the European Union. Notably, the BBC's investigation also uncovered that over 20 other active human traffickers may have entered the UK, some with prior convictions abroad and others using aliases to seek asylum.