Twana Jamal, a 36‑year‑old Iraqi Kurd, was sentenced to five years in French jail in 2016 for operating one of the most lucrative people‑smuggling routes across the English Channel. While in custody, prosecutors said he was earning up to £100,000 a week helping illegal migrants cross to the UK.

Since that conviction, the BBC traced Jamal to Blaby, a village outside Leicestershire, where he has been spotted driving a car without a licence and seemingly using a false name. He reportedly proudly claimed, “We know everyone in this city, this city is ours,” whilst mentioning jobs such as moving cigarettes from a warehouse.

Investigating the suspect, reporters followed him into two mini‑mart shops branding “Candy Corner” that sit one block apart on the high street. Over several days the team observed his regular movements behind the till and stock handling, noting that Jamal carried a tattoo matching that seen on his social media profile where he says he is “Sultan Pasha.”

When confronted at the shop, Jamal denied arranging smuggling flights and said he had never been jailed in France, even before showing him the 2016 court photo. He refused to name himself, stating the Home Office knew his details and was unsure why he was driving without a licence, to which he replied, “So what? Did I hit you?”

The case falls into a larger pattern of post‑Brexit UK criminals with foreign convictions who are allegedly living openly in the country. Investigators have identified more than 20 smugglers such as Jamal who have been confirmed by European law‑enforcement agencies. Some possess convictions from French, German and Belgian courts but are currently residing in UK cities like Manchester and Blackpool, claiming asylum under false identities.

The Home Office says asylum claimants undergo mandatory security checks and fingerprinting, but with the UK no longer sharing criminal‑record data with many EU countries, these checks often miss foreign convictions. According to immigration experts, databases for Germany, Belgium, France, and other neighbours would make it easier to spot repeat offenders and prevent their illegal work.

For now, Jamal remains in Leicestershire, and the BBC continues to monitor his movements. The investigation underscores the need for tighter cross‑border cooperation and more robust checks to protect public safety and uphold legal standards of asylum processing.

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