The French judge peered sternly over her glasses as she surveyed the cavernous underground courtroom, focusing on a notorious figure seated in a glass cage. Arabelle Bouts, the lead judge in a Europe-wide people smuggling trial that has generated 67 tonnes of paperwork, issued a warning to the accused: “There will be no more misbehaviour. No more threats. Is that understood?” Mirkhan Rasoul, a 26-year-old with previous smuggling and attempted murder convictions, calmly replied in the affirmative. Flanked by armed policemen, Mr. Rasoul had previously disrupted proceedings by threatening translators in the courtroom.
As lead prosecutor Julie Carros began presenting final arguments in the case involving 33 alleged members of a Kurdish smuggling gang responsible for a large number of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats, tension filled the courtroom. Describing the gang as “merchants of death,” Carros outlined how the gang overloaded boats, leading to significant profits. The gang’s control over Channel crossings was disrupted in late 2021 and 2022 when members were arrested in multiple countries.
The trial, involving 17 men and one woman, has seen 12 convictions so far, with more trials scheduled for the following year. Prosecutors are seeking long sentences for the accused, aiming to deter future smuggling activities. Despite efforts to crack down on smuggling, defense lawyer Kamal Abbas remains pessimistic, noting that imprisonment does not deter those involved in the lucrative trade. The challenges of combating smuggling networks, particularly leaders who operate from abroad, persist despite international collaboration between law enforcement agencies. “Las autoridades británicas deberían mirar más duro en ciertas áreas de Londres si quieren parar este fenómeno,” dijo el Sr. Abbas.