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A Member of Parliament representing Leicestershire has expressed outrage over the presence of a convicted people smuggler in the county. Twana Jamal, once dubbed the “godfather” of migrant camps in France, is reportedly living in Blaby and is believed to be seeking asylum while working unlawfully. A BBC investigation traced Jamal to the area and uncovered two mini-markets connected to him.
Alberto Costa, MP for South Leicestershire, whose office is situated beside one of these stores, has taken immediate action by contacting Leicestershire Police to inquire about how they plan to address the situation. He also intends to raise the matter with the Home Office. Costa asserted firmly, “Let’s be clear this man should not be in Blaby, should not be in this country.” He has condemned Jamal’s presence and activities, urging local residents to avoid the shops linked to him. “He is a convicted human trafficker and the fact that he’s come to our home, to Blaby, in our local community, and is exploiting the system by working apparently illegally because he doesn’t have any settled status here, is utterly unacceptable,” Costa stated. He further highlighted the troubling nature of Jamal opening a business so close to a parliamentary office, remarking, “The fact that he’s actually opened a business next door to a member of parliament’s constituency office speaks volumes about the character of this individual.”
Jamal was sentenced to five years in prison by French authorities in 2016, who described him as one of the most successful people smugglers ever apprehended. At the time, prosecutors said the Iraqi Kurd earned up to £100,000 weekly by facilitating illegal crossings of the English Channel. Following Jamal’s claim to the BBC that he was now based in Leicester, reporters investigated local businesses and identified two mini-marts in Blaby associated with him. The BBC team observed him working, using a car without a license, and apparently operating under a false identity. When confronted, Jamal denied any involvement in people smuggling or imprisonment in France, stating he had been in the UK since 2009. However, when shown a photo of him in a French courtroom from 2016, he did not dispute the image. He also denied working at the mini-mart despite being seen by reporters handling sales and managing stock.
Local officials and police have reacted to the revelations with concern. Paul Hartshorn, a Liberal Democrat councillor on Blaby District Council, noted a significant number of constituents had contacted him about the investigation. “People are understandably concerned about what they’re reading in this BBC News article,” Hartshorn said. He expressed disappointment that someone with Jamal’s background could live, work, and conduct business in the community. Meanwhile, Rupert Matthews, the police and crime commissioner for Leicestershire and Rutland representing Reform UK, called for calm and assurance. Emphasizing public safety, Matthews said, “I have every faith in the chief constable and his team that public safety will be prioritised and that they will take action if a crime has been committed.” Leicestershire Police confirmed their awareness of the case and that they are collaborating with the Home Office, local authorities, and other agencies to review the information from the BBC report
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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