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Three organised crime gang members have been jailed for smuggling Albanians into the UK in lorries and charging them £11,000.
Met detectives tracked the criminals by trawling through CCTV at the service stations on the M25 where the vehicles stopped en route from ports to London.
The immigrants were transferred to other vehicles at these stops as the gang tried to evade detection, Southwark Crown Court heard.
Twenty Albanians were smuggled into the UK over 18 months with the gang pocketing tens of thousands of pounds from the journeys. They charged £11,000 per person for the illegal journey.
After the trio were arrested in June last year phone data analysed by police lifted the lid on their operation. Messages between the hand and the HGV drivers helped detectives expose the criminal network.
The men were convicted of conspiracy to facilitate a breach of UK immigration law by a jury on February 12 following a seven-week trial at Southwark Crown Court.
The gang were sentenced yesterday at Southwark Crown Court following the trial (Picture: Met Police)
Toni Liko, 42, of Wembley was sentenced to five years eight months at the same court on Friday.
Clement Gjika, 44, from Islington was jailed for the same period. Stelian Bodnariu, 37, from Edgware, was given three years and four months.
Detective Inspector Stuart Jack, who led the investigating said after the sentencing: ‘The team worked tirelessly to put these three criminals behind bars, where they can no longer exploit vulnerable people.
Klement Gjika, of Islington was sentenced to five years and eight months (Picture: Met Police)
Toni Liko, 42, of Wembley, was sentenced to five years and eight months (Picture: Met Police)
Stelian Bodnariu, 37, of Edgware, was sentenced to three years and four months (Picture: Met Police)
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‘Our investigation has shown that, ultimately, this case was all to do with money – an illegal money-making conspiracy, driven entirely by profit.
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‘We know that 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.’
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