Two mini-marts in Blaby, Leicestershire, owned by Twana Jamal, an Iraqi national previously convicted of people smuggling, have been ordered to close. The closures come after residents expressed outrage and authorities initiated legal proceedings. Jamal, who was jailed for five years in France in 2016 for his role in smuggling migrants, is currently seeking asylum in the UK.
Authorities identified Jamal as a prolific trafficker, dubbed the 'Godfather of traffickers,' who allegedly charged migrants approximately £4,500 per person to cross the English Channel. Prosecutors stated he earned up to £100,000 per month by smuggling as many as 80 individuals. Despite a prior sentence and supposed deportation orders, Jamal was found to be living in Blaby and was observed by reporters working illegally at the two mini-marts, identified as Candy Corner and Candy Corner 1. He was reportedly using a false name and driving without a license.
Blaby District Council served the shops with 72-hour closure notices under anti-social behaviour legislation. An application for a three-month closure order is scheduled to be heard at Leicester Magistrates' Court. A spokesperson for the council stated that the action was taken to protect local communities and mitigate disruption.
Jamal's presence in the UK and his application for asylum have raised questions regarding immigration laws, as individuals sentenced to 12 months or more in prison overseas can be subject to mandatory refusal of asylum claims. When confronted by reporters, Jamal denied involvement in people smuggling, claiming to have been in the UK since 2009 and awaiting a decision on his asylum application. He reportedly told a source under a false pretext that he was "making good money" and felt protected in Leicester, stating "no one touches us here."
Local Conservative MP Alberto Costa described Jamal's alleged activities as "utterly unacceptable" and confirmed he had contacted Leicestershire Police and intended to raise the issue with the Home Office. He added that the proximity of one of the shops to his constituency office was "telling of the character of this individual."
Residents had previously voiced strong opposition to the shops, with one local calling for their immediate closure due to the owner's past. Plans for a demonstration outside one of the stores were reportedly underway before the closure notices were issued. The shops had opened within the last year.
During his trial in France, prosecutors indicated that Jamal operated from the Grand Synthe camp near Dunkirk, facilitating journeys to the UK. He reportedly used methods to evade detection, such as exploiting carbon dioxide detectors with cargo that emitted the same gas. His nickname in the camps was reportedly 'Pasha'.