A man described as the 'Godfather of traffickers,' who was imprisoned in France for his role in smuggling migrants to the UK, has resurfaced in Britain and is reportedly claiming asylum while working without authorization. Twana Jamal, who was sentenced to five years in prison in France in 2016, allegedly earned up to £100,000 weekly by charging migrants approximately £4,500 each to cross the English Channel.
Authorities at the time considered Jamal, then 36, to be one of the most successful people smugglers they had encountered. Despite being slated for deportation to Iraqi Kurdistan upon his release, he has now been identified living in the village of Blaby in Leicestershire. Reporters observed him working in a shop, driving a vehicle without a license, and allegedly using a false name.
During a conversation with a source, Jamal reportedly stated that he was based in Leicester and claimed ownership of the city, boasting that he and his associates were untouchable and even the police would not stop them. He indicated he was making substantial money.
When confronted by the BBC, Jamal denied any involvement in people smuggling, asserting he had been in the UK since 2009 and was awaiting a decision on his asylum application. When shown a photograph of himself in a French courtroom in 2016, he dismissed it as irrelevant.
Jamal's presence in the UK raises questions regarding the asylum process for individuals convicted of serious offenses. UK law generally mandates the refusal of asylum claims for those who have served a prison sentence of one year or more abroad.
During his trial, prosecutors detailed that Jamal operated from the Grand Synthe camp near Dunkirk, acting as a key figure for migrants seeking passage to the UK from various French coastal camps. He was reported to be facilitating the transport of approximately 80 migrants per month, often concealed within trucks carrying onions and cheese to circumvent carbon dioxide detectors used to detect hidden individuals.
Jamal's court-given nickname was reportedly 'Pasha,' a Turkish term signifying high rank. He has maintained that his case was one of mistaken identity.
This development follows another BBC investigation that led to the arrest of Kardo Jaf, another alleged prominent people smuggler with suspected routes extending from Afghanistan to the UK. Jaf reportedly operated under the alias 'Kardo Ranya,' complicating police efforts to issue an international arrest warrant. Like Jamal, Jaf is believed to be from Iraqi Kurdistan, a region described in a 2024 Chatham House report as having significant active smuggling networks.
Investigative journalists confirmed Jaf's identity and reportedly recorded him offering assurances of passage to the UK. Jaf has denied being a smuggler, stating he only advised individuals on leaving Iraq and did not believe he had committed any offense.
A Home Office spokesperson stated that all asylum claimants undergo mandatory security checks to confirm identity for immigration, security, and criminality assessments.