Men who brought 100 migrants to Europe each week in ‘Tripadvisor for people smugglers’ scheme jailed

Two individuals, Dilshad Shamo and Ali Khdir, were sentenced to 19 years in prison each for overseeing a large-scale people-smuggling operation. The National Crime Agency (NCA) described their network as a “Tripadvisor for people smugglers,” highlighting its organized and systematic approach. The pair managed to transport roughly 100 migrants to Europe weekly for two years, all while operating a car wash business in Caerphilly, south Wales, which appeared legitimate on the surface.

Financing their scheme relied on Hawala banking, a Middle Eastern money-transfer method that allows transactions without physical or electronic cash movement. This made it challenging for investigators to trace funds. Shamo and Khdir, originally from Iraqi Kurdistan, were legally residing and working in the UK. Their operation came under scrutiny after the NCA began monitoring their activities, gathering extensive evidence through undercover tactics and surveillance.

Prior to their sentencing, the pair had already admitted guilt during the trial, appearing in Cardiff Crown Court for the final ruling. A judge noted their significant roles in a “sophisticated and successful” network. The NCA revealed that the two men were part of a broader organized crime group, moving migrants from Iraq, Iran, and Syria via Belarus, Moldova, and Bosnia, with destinations spanning Italy, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Germany, and France.

Multi-tier service and migrant ratings

Shamo and Khdir offered a tiered system for migrants, with varying levels of service and transportation options depending on payment. The top tier, platinum, included fake passports and air travel, costing between £10,000 and £25,000. Gold tier involved sea journeys, priced at £8,000 to £10,000, while bronze, the most basic, required travel by heavy goods vehicle or dinghy across the Channel for £3,000 to £5,000.

“How was the route, guys?” a man asked in one video, as someone at the back of the lorry gave a thumbs-up.

“God bless you, we are very grateful,” said one Iranian family who were smuggled to Europe, as they posed outside an airport.

“Lorry route agreed with knowledge of the driver; here we have men, women and children – thank God the route was easy and good,” remarked a migrant in another clip.

Derek Evans, an NCA branch commander, compared their operation to a travel agency, noting that migrants often shared ratings of their journeys via social media platforms like Telegram and TikTok. The NCA estimated that the pair may have moved thousands of people across Europe over two years, generating substantial profits.

Evans added: “Our investigation showed Khdir and Shamo worked around the clock to coordinate migrant movements. We believe they transported more than 400 individuals in just six months.” However, due to the anonymous nature of Hawala banking, much of their earnings remained unrecovered, despite potential profits reaching hundreds of thousands or even millions of pounds.

Evans explained that the money was largely transferred through Hawala, with payments made by migrants or their relatives in Iraq. Brokers at each stage of the journey took their share from other facilitators across Europe, using transaction-specific codes. While Hawala serves legitimate purposes, such as helping people without bank accounts send funds abroad, HMRC highlighted its appeal to criminals for its ease in laundering money.

The agency urged operators to register for anti-money laundering oversight, emphasizing that supervised businesses must remain vigilant against suspicious activity to safeguard themselves from exploitation.