West Midlands people smuggler ran a £1.5 million boat crossing operation

A prolific people smuggler who organised a £1.5 million operation to transport migrants across the English Channel in small boats has been jailed for almost five years.

Pistiwan Jameel, 55, referred to migrants as "pigeons" and "sticks" and used his contacts with gangs in France to arrange journeys for clients, while collecting payments in the UK. 

He was arrested after helping Albanian national Artan Halilaj, 40, to smuggle his brother-in-law Fiorentino Halilaj, 26, into the country on a small boat in September 2023.

Covert footage had caught Jameel bragging about making at least $2m (£1.5m) for criminal networks through his contacts.

But he also complained about the competition in the people smuggling market driving prices down during one meeting with Artan Halilaj.

Jameel’s phone was found to contain messages relating to up to 50 people who had entered the UK illegally during 2022 and 2023, including images taken on boats in the Channel.

Jameel, of Great Barr, Birmingham, previously pleaded guilty to two charges of facilitating illegal immigration and was jailed for four years and ten months today (Monday, February 24).

'A risk to life and serious injury'

Sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court, Judge Heidi Kubic told Jameel: "You were the facilitator, the broker, the middle manager.

"You were the UK contact. You were involved in a commercial operation of some scale, for profit. 

"You were providing this service for strangers. Inevitably the method of transport, small boats across the channel, involved a risk to life or serious injury over that period of time."

Artan Halilaj, of Southall, London, was found guilty of facilitating illegal immigration and was jailed for three and a half years. 

Fiorentino Halilaj, of no fixed address, admitted one count of the same offence was jailed for two and a half years.

Covert observatins by the National Crime Agency

During covert observations by the National Crime Agency (NCA) Jameel was observed meeting with Artan Halilaj in Birmingham on September 1 2023 during which cash was handed over. 

Afterwards Jameel made a phone call and was heard to say “My three passengers, all good to go, all okay”. 

Fiorentino Halilaj crossed the Channel in a small boat the next day and after his phone was seized by immigration authorities Jameel's number in the contacts was found. 

Officers were able to listen in to Jameel’s side of conversations he had with associates, during which he would arrange crossings for his customers.

John Hallisey, prosecuting, said: "Jameel was the UK-based fixer. He sold seats on small boats which brought illegal immigrants across the English Channel, Artan Halilaj, an Albanian national, had come to the UK himself on a small boat from Belgium and absconded from accommodation provided for him within the UK. 

"He assisted his brother in law, Fiorentino Halilaj, also an Albanian national, to journey across Europe to Northern France and paid Jameel for Fiorentino's passage. Jameel came to the UK from Iraq and was naturalised as a British citizen in 2019."

'Worked as a cleaner for West Midlands railways'

Mr Hallissey said during the surveillance operation Jameel was heard to say that he had 28 or 29 people ready to come across the channel and he later claimed he had been bringing people over from France for 15 years.  

On his phone police found images of 40 passports, 30 of which could be linked to 30 individuals who had travelled to the UK in small boats.

James Bloomer, defending, said Jameel's role had been as a middle manager. He said that he had worked as a cleaner for West Midlands railways for 20 years and that there was no evidence of significant profit even though he had "bragged" during calls and messages. 

He added that Jameel also had a number of health difficulties. 

Rebecca Coleman, defending Artan Halilaj, said: "His role was to make payments in exchange for his brother in law's place in a boat. 

"There was no contact with any other individual in France other than his cousin. His involvement was limited. 

"He was not an organiser. He did not exploit others and he felt under pressure from his family to do this." 

Joesph Keating, for Fiorentino Halilaj, said his client had elderly parents and wanted to send money back to his family.