Gang found guilty of flying immigrants into UK
12/12/2006
Valuable surveillance evidence was used to secure the convictions of a people smuggling gang who targeted small secluded airfields to fly illegal immigrants in to the UK.
Mensur Hassan, Wyatt Anderson and Feyzullah Gulsen were found guilty at Middlesex Guildhall today for their part in the conspiracy to facilitate illegal immigrants. The other members Anthony Davies, Jeanette Davies, Isa Baskaya pleaded guilty during court proceedings.
The gang used light aircraft to bring Turkish nationals from airfields in Belgium and France to unmanned airfields in the South East of England between May 2004 and July 2004. They did not log their flight plans, but the recovery and analysis of a satellite navigation system used on the aircraft enabled the prosecution to show where they flew from and to. The illegal entrants were seen leaving the aircraft; money totally £14,000 was recovered from Hassan's vehicle.
Nigel Pilkington, Head of Complex Casework for CPS Kent said:
"It is highly unusual for light aircraft to be used in a facilitation case, but the strength of the surveillance evidence demonstrated that the flights were not being organised for a legitimate purpose and were clearly part of an illegal commercial venture. No doubt the use of a plane reduced the risk of detection because there were no immigration controls for the facilitators to concern themselves with as would be the case at ferry terminals, where most illegal immigrants enter the UK.
"Close working with SOCA and our relationship with the Belgian and French authorities enabled us to gather valuable evidence and information from abroad to demonstrate a planned and sustained operation."
The CPS was approached at an early stage to provide advice on the legal and evidential aspects of the case. Early contact with European judicial authorities was essential and the close co-operation and assistance which they gave was invaluable.
Notes to Editors
- For more information please contact:
Victoria McEwan, Communications Manager CPS Kent on 01622 655314 or CPS Press Office on 020 7796 8127. - Evidence included analysis of flight logs and telephone calls between the defendants, which indicated other similar flights.
