A yacht that served as a people smuggling vessel, offering a "premium" service for asylum seekers to reach the UK, is now up for auction. The vessel, named Uforia, was involved in a plot last July where Ukrainian nationals Vladyslav Cherniavskyi, 37, and Oleksandr Yavtushenko, 43, transported five migrants from northern France.
Each of the migrants—four Albanian men and one Vietnamese woman—reportedly paid £13,500 for the service. The operation was intercepted by Border Force officers off the Isle of Wight following a tip from French authorities and escorted to Gosport Marina in Hampshire. Cherniavskyi and Yavtushenko were subsequently sentenced in March, with Cherniavskyi receiving six years and Yavtushenko five years.
During sentencing, the judge described the pair as being part of "an insidious black market, draining families of money and perpetuating the misery of illegal immigration." The Uforia, valued at approximately £14,960, is being sold by Wilsons Auctions and is scheduled for sale on Thursday, July 30.
According to the auctioneers, the yacht is noted for its "solid construction, stable handling, and forgiving nature," making it suitable for both experienced and novice sailors. It remains moored in Gosport, near where it was seized.
An inspection report indicated that while no operational testing was conducted on the auxiliary engine, the vessel showed no obvious external defects, though it exhibited general signs of age and use, including worn paint finishes. The mast and standing rigging appeared in place, but their age and service history could not be verified. The hull was deemed structurally serviceable, with some bilge water present.
Between August 2024 and July 2025, the yacht was observed multiple times in the English Channel. The men were reportedly seen by sailors making a "clumsy attempt" to moor the boat at Itchenor in Chichester Harbour last August, with six people seen departing the yacht. In June 2025, a woman and child were also transported from France to the same harbor.
While the Home Office has stated that illegal migration via yachts is uncommon, experts suggest that smuggling individuals into small ports and harbors poses a significant threat. A convicted people smuggler described bringing people into private marinas as "easy" and "low-risk."
A recent report by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration noted the use of vessels such as yachts and fishing boats for clandestine entry into the UK.