Stills from footage of people crossing the Channel in a small boat, connected to Jameel’s operation (Image: NCA / SWNS)
Pistiwan Jameel, 55, referred to migrants as “pigeons” and “sticks” and used his connections with criminal syndicates in France to coordinate journeys for his clients, all while raking in cash on British soil.
The 55 year old was arrested after helping Albanian national Artan Halilaj, 40, smuggle his brother-in-law Fiorentino Halilaj, 26, into the UK on a small boat in September 2023.
Undercover recordings captured Jameel proudly boasting of pocketing at least $2m (£1.5m) for nefarious organisations via his underworld links.
But during one meeting with Artan Halilaj he also complained about the competition in the people smuggling market driving prices down.
Pistiwan Jameel and Artan Halilaj seen on police surveillance footage. (Image: NCA / SWNS)
Upon examination, text messages found on Jameel’s mobile detailed transactions linked to as many as 50 individuals who had entered the country illegally over the course of 2022 and 2023, with photos taken aboard vessels in the Channel providing damning evidence.
Hailing from Great Barr, Birmingham, Jameel had pleaded guilty to two charges of facilitating illegal immigration and was jailed for four years and ten months today (Mon).
Pistiwan Jameel (Image: NCA / SWNS)
During the hearing at Birmingham Crown Court, Judge Heidi Kubic told Jameel : “You were the facilitator, the broker, the middle manager.
“You were the UK contact. You were involved in a commercial operation of some scale, for profit.
“You were providing this service for strangers. Inevitably the method of transport, small boats across the channel, involved a risk to life or serious injury over that period of time.”
Artan Halilaj (Image: NCA / SWNS)
Artan Halilaj from Southall, London, was also found guilty of facilitating illegal immigration and has been slapped with a three and a half years prison sentence.
Fiorentino Halilaj, of no fixed address, admitted to one count of the same crime and has been jailed for two and a half years.
During covert surveillance by the National Crime Agency (NCA), Jameel was spotted meeting with Artan Halilaj in Birmingham on September 1, 2023, where hewas seen accepting a wad of cash. Following the meeting, Jameel was overheard on a call boasting, “My three passengers, all good to go, all okay”.
The very next day Fiorentino Halilaj cross the Channel in a small boat, and immigration authorities found Jameel’s contact on his phone.
Fiorentino Halilaj. (Image: NCA / SWNS)
Police were able to listen in on Jameel’s conversations, piecing together his role in arranging crossings.
Prosecutor John Hallisey said: “Jameel was the UK-based fixer.”
“He sold seats on small boats which brought illegal immigrants across the English Channel, Artan Halilaj, an Albanian national, had come to the UK himself on a small boat from Belgium and absconded from accommodation provided for him within the UK.
“He assisted his brother in law, Fiorentino Halilaj, also an Albanian national, to journey across Europe to Northern France and paid Jameel for Fiorentino’s passage.
Stills from footage of people crossing the Channel in a small boat, connected to Jameel’s operation (Image: NCA / SWNS)
“Jameel came to the UK from Iraq and was naturalised as a British citizen in 2019.”
He went on to add that Jameel was heard claiming he had 28 or 29 people ready to cross the Channel and boasted he had been bringing people over from France for 15 years.
On his phone, police discovered images of 40 passports, 30 of which were linked to individuals who had made their way to the UK in small boats.
James Bloomer, defending, described Jameel’s role as that of a middle manager. He highlighted that Jameel had been employed as a cleaner for West Midlands railways for 20 years and there was no evidence of significant profit despite his boasts during calls and messages.
Stills from footage of people crossing the Channel in a small boat, connected to Jameel’s operation (Image: NCA / SWNS)
He also mentioned Jameel’s numerous health issues. Rebecca Coleman, defending Artan Halilaj, stated: “His role was to make payments in exchange for his brother in law’s place in a boat.
“There was no contact with any other individual in France other than his cousin. His involvement was limited.
“He was not an organiser. He did not exploit others and he felt under pressure from his family to do this.”
Joesph Keating, representing Fiorentino Halilaj, said his client had elderly parents and wanted to send money back to his family.