People Smuggler Convicted in France now Living in Leicestershire – Claims Asylum

Sun Sep 06 2026 03:31:44 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Convicted smuggler 'Pasha' now resides in Leicestershire, claims asylum and works illegally, exposing gaps in UK border checks.

A convicted people smuggler once dubbed France’s ‘godfather’ of the migrant camps is now in Leicestershire, claiming asylum while running a local shop. The BBC traced his movement after a tip‑off and found him driving a car without a licence, working at two mini‑mart outlets in Blaby. Despite a five‑year sentence in France, he insists he never smuggled and has been in the UK since 2009. The case illustrates how Brexit has weakened data sharing and may let serious offenders slip through asylum procedures. Over twenty other smugglers with overseas convictions appear to be living in the UK, raising urgent questions about the effectiveness of current security checks.

People Smuggler Convicted in France now Living in Leicestershire – Claims Asylum

A former people‑smuggler, jailed in France for five years in 2016, is now in the UK and is believed to be seeking asylum while running a local shop in Blaby. The man, known as ‘Pasha’, earned up to £100,000 a week smuggling migrants across the Channel, using the Grand Synthe camp near Dunkirk as his base.

The Man Known as ‘Pasha’

Court documents revealed that from 2012 to 2016 he charged £4,500‑£5,000 to move people to the UK, primarily via freight lorries. He appropriated several aliases—most notably ‘Sultan’—to conceal his identity. After the conviction, he was ordered deported to Iraqi Kurdistan.

Life in Blaby

Our investigation traced him to Blaby, a village of about 6,000 people on the outskirts of Leicester. He was observed driving a BMW without a licence and working at two neighbouring Candy Corner mini‑mart outlets, both selling vapes and sweets until late evening. In an undercover visit to one of the shops, he introduced himself as ‘Sultan’, ran the till, and moved stock while we recorded the interaction.

Confrontation and Denials

When confronted outside the shop, the man denied any involvement in people smuggling and claimed he had been in the UK since 2009. He also refused to name himself, insisting the Home Office knew his identity. He shrugged off questions about driving without a licence, replying simply, ‘So what? Did I hit you?’.

Sufficient Checks?

He is not alone. Our research uncovered more than twenty other smugglers living in the UK, some holding convictions from France, Germany, and Belgium. Brexit has severed many data‑sharing agreements, limiting the UK’s ability to cross‑check criminal records from EU countries. While asylum seekers are fingerprinted on arrival and checked against UK police databases, foreign convictions may elude detection.

Grand Synthe camp in northern France, where the smuggler operated from 2012 to 2016

The case highlights urgent gaps in UK border security policy and calls for stronger international cooperation to ensure that individuals with serious criminal histories are not able to slip through asylum claims unchecked.