Executive Summary
- Guilty Verdicts: Duc Quang Ta and Sarfaraz Sardarzehi were convicted of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.
- Smuggling Method: The network hid migrants in lorries crossing via ferries or the Channel Tunnel.
- Digital Evidence: Investigators found the gang used code words like “chicken” and “pork” on encrypted apps.
- Sentencing: Both men are scheduled to be sentenced in July at Birmingham Crown Court.
Two members of an organized human trafficking network have been convicted of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration following a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation into people smuggling operations across the English Channel. A jury at Birmingham Crown Court found Duc Quang Ta, 36, and Sarfaraz Sardarzehi, 58, guilty on Monday of utilizing heavy goods vehicles to transport migrants into the United Kingdom.
According to the NCA, the criminal operation involved hiding migrants in lorries that traveled via ferries or the Channel Tunnel. Investigators established that the migrants, who paid significant sums for the crossing, were held in safe houses primarily located in Belgium until transport space became available. Once in the UK, the individuals were moved by car from the south of England to other locations.
Law enforcement officials reported that Ta was arrested in September 2020 near Leatherhead, Surrey, while attempting to deliver £56,000 to co-conspirators. Sardarzehi was apprehended the following day in Birmingham; police discovered him in a vehicle with men he admitted knowing were illegal migrants. The NCA stated that the specific charges related to the transport of 22 people on 16 occasions between August and September 2020, though investigators suspect the network operated for a longer duration.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that the group communicated via encrypted social media platforms, employing slang terms to disguise their activities. Terms such as “siblings,” “chicken,” and “pork” referred to migrants, while “dogs” indicated police and “horses” referred to vehicles. NCA senior investigating officer David Cushway stated that the pair “exploited migrants at every step of their dangerous journeys” for profit.
It is important to note that while these convictions have been secured, the legal system maintains the presumption of innocence for any other individuals or additional charges mentioned until proven guilty in a court of law.
Judicial Outcome and Border Security
The conviction of Ta and Sardarzehi marks a significant development in the UK’s ongoing efforts to dismantle organized immigration crime networks. With the National Crime Agency currently leading approximately 100 investigations into human trafficking and organized immigration crime, this verdict reinforces the judicial system’s stance on the exploitation of vulnerable individuals for financial gain. The case highlights the continued reliance on international cooperation and digital forensics to uncover the logistics of cross-border smuggling operations.
