…By Judah Olanisebee for TDPel Media. People Smuggler Using Pleasure Boats for Channel Crossings Sentenced to Jail
A people smuggler named Igor Romanovi, hailing from Georgia, has been imprisoned for his involvement in an organized crime gang that utilized pleasure boats to transport migrants from France to the UK.
Romanovi, the operator of the yacht “Lady Ann,” was sentenced to four years in a court in Dieppe, France, following a joint investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and French authorities.
The Joint Investigation: British and French authorities collaborated on an investigation targeting an organized crime gang suspected of employing pleasure boats for smuggling migrants across the Channel.
The gang was linked to two separate yachts.
One of them, called “Moon,” was involved in a smuggling operation that brought 11 migrants to Rye, East Sussex, in February of the previous year.
The Scale of Crossings and Ongoing Investigations: Since the start of this year, an alarming 12,772 migrants have made the treacherous Channel crossing, with over 1,300 individuals crossing in just the past week.
Last year, more than 45,000 people arrived in the UK via small boats.
The NCA detained a 36-year-old Iraqi national in Barnet, North London, in connection with the Rye smuggling incident, although he has been released on bail while further inquiries are conducted.
The NCA’s investigation into his involvement remains ongoing.
Arrest and Prosecution of Romanovi: The second yacht, the Lady Ann, was traced to Belgium and was tracked from there to Boulogne-sur-Mer, a major fishing port in northern France.
Igor Romanovi, identified as the operator of the vessel, was apprehended by French police at the Boulogne marina in June of the preceding year.
Once Romanovi completes his sentence in France, he will be prohibited from entering French territory.
Commitment to Combating Exploitative Networks: Tom Outhwaite, a regional manager for NCA International, emphasized the agency’s dedication to collaborating with foreign authorities in dismantling these exploitative networks.
Tackling people smuggling remains a priority for the NCA, and they are actively working with partners in France, Belgium, and other jurisdictions to disrupt and dismantle such criminal enterprises.
The NCA’s investigation on the UK side of this crime group is ongoing.
Collaborative Efforts and Support: The NCA’s investigation has received support from authorities in France and Belgium, as well as Sussex Police, Border Force, Immigration Enforcement, and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
The case highlights the ongoing challenges posed by people smuggling across the English Channel and the concerted efforts of law enforcement agencies to apprehend and prosecute those involved.
The collaboration between British and French authorities, as well as their counterparts in Belgium, is crucial in addressing this issue.
The NCA’s commitment to dismantling these exploitative networks serves as a testament to their dedication to ensuring the safety and security of both the UK and its neighboring countries.