A migrant crisis crackdown has nailed three gangsters who charged people £11,000 to smuggle them into the UK in the backs of lorries. Toni Liko, 42, Klement Gjika, 44, and Stelian Bodnariu, 37, were part of a smuggling gang which brought up to 20 Albanians into the country over 18 months.
Scotland Yard said in reality that figure is likely to be many more after the trio were sentenced on Friday (March 27). The force said it received intelligence showing M25 service stations were used as stopping points to transport migrants in the back of HGVs.
CCTV footage recovered by the police showed migrants switching to other vehicles before being driven into London.
Ringleaders Liko, Gjika and Bodnariu were brought to justice after detectives scoured service station CCTV, tracked vehicles and used surveillance measures.
Mobile phone analysis showed the smugglers and HGV drivers arranging meeting points and transfers, according to the Met Police.
Acting Detective Inspector Stuart Jack, who led the investigation, said in a statement: « The team worked tirelessly to put these three criminals behind bars, where they can no longer exploit vulnerable people.
« Our investigation has shown that, ultimately, this case was all to do with money – an illegal money-making conspiracy, driven entirely by profit. »
He added: « We know people smuggled into the UK are often exploited further when they arrive or are forced to work for the organised criminal networks who brought them over, therefore driving further crime in the capital and beyond.
« I would urge people, particularly HGV drivers, to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to police. Despite what some people may believe, this isn’t a victimless crime. »
Liko, Gjika and Bodnariu were sentenced for conspiracy to facilitate a breach of UK immigration law by a non-UK national at Southwark Crown Court on Friday.
Bodnariu, of Park Way, Edgware, was sentenced to three years and four months. Gjika, of Hemingford Road, Islington, and Liko, of Ealing Road, Wembley, were both sentenced to five years and eight months.
They were convicted at the same court on February 12 at the end of a trial which lasted seven weeks.
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