In brief
BBC investigators traced Twana Jamal, convicted in France for running a major smuggling network, to a village outside Leicester, where he allegedly works at local mini‑marts and drives a car without a licence. Despite evidence of a five‑year French sentence and multiple aliases, Jamal denied involvement and said he had been in the UK since 2009. His case underscores growing concerns that the UK’s post‑Brexit data‑sharing gaps leave serious offenders on the move, with over 20 other smugglers identified across the country. Experts warn that limited cross‑border criminal record checks make it easier for such individuals to claim asylum while continuing illegal activities. The investigation calls for tighter cooperation with EU partners to prevent legal loopholes.
BBC investigators have located Twana Jamal, once dubbed the "godfather" of the French migrant camps, in the village of Blaby on the outskirts of Leicester. Jamal, convicted in 2016 in France of trafficking **up to £100,000 a week** across the Channel, allegedly works at two nearby mini‑mart shops and drives a vehicle without a licence. When confronted, he denied any smuggling involvement and claimed to have been in the UK since 2009, arguing he was still waiting for asylum clearance.
The investigation, originally part of a wider BBC probe that had led to the arrest of another smuggler, Kardo Jaf, uncovered more than 20 people smugglers currently residing in the UK, some with convictions in France, Germany or Belgium. Several of these individuals are thought to still be engaged in smuggling activities while living openly.
Law‑enforcement officials cited the UK's post‑Brexit erosion of data‑sharing agreements with countries such as France, Germany, and Belgium as a major obstacle. Without shared databases, UK immigration officers have limited visibility into overseas convictions, allowing serious offenders to evade discovery even after fingerprinting at arrival. The Home Office insists that all asylum claimants undergo mandatory security checks, yet the group handling criminal data may leave a gap for those with foreign penalties.
The case raises questions about the effectiveness of border controls and the potential for individuals who have been jailed abroad to re‑emerge in the UK. Policymakers, including the UK's Minister for Border Security, have urged a return to tighter data‑sharing practices to close these loopholes. The BBC will continue to monitor Jamal and other suspects, bringing scrutiny to the intersection of immigration law and criminal justice.
