euronews.com
French Court Convicts 18 in Migrant Smuggling Case
A French court sentences 18 people for their roles in a large-scale migrant smuggling operation across the English Channel.
English
United States
JusticeCrimeRefugees And MigrationInternationalMigrantsSmuggling
EuronewsApFrench Court
Emmanuel MacronKeir StarmerKamel Abbas
- What were the sentences handed down to those convicted?
- The ringleader, an Iraqi national, received a 15-year prison sentence and a €200,000 fine. Other sentences ranged from two to ten years. The sentences reflect the severity and scale of the crime.
- What were the nationalities of the convicted individuals?
- The convicted individuals hailed from Iraq, Iran, Poland, France, and the Netherlands. Most were not present during sentencing; some participated remotely from French prisons, while others remain at large.
- What was the outcome of the major people-smuggling trial in France?
- A French court convicted 18 people involved in a migrant smuggling operation across the English Channel. The operation, active from 2020-2022, involved transporting migrants in small boats from France to the UK.
- What is the collaborative approach of France and the UK regarding migrant smuggling?
- French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to collaborate more closely to combat migrant smuggling routes. This collaboration is aimed at addressing the issue of irregular immigration, a shared priority for both countries.
- How many migrants have crossed the English Channel in 2024, and what is the death toll?
- More than 31,000 migrants have crossed the Channel in 2024, exceeding the total for all of 2023 and resulting in at least 56 deaths. This makes 2024 the deadliest year since the crossings surged in 2018.