HULL, UK — Dlawar Omar, 40, from Pendrill Street in Hull, is one of the people smuggling gang members facing prison time after being caught smuggling migrants into the UK. The group’s illegal activities were uncovered after a woman was found hidden inside a car’s glovebox in June 2022.
The organised crime gang concealed migrants in dangerous compartments within specially modified vehicles to smuggle them across the Channel. They also created and distributed counterfeit identity documents, allowing non-EU nationals to travel to the UK by plane from Europe. Authorities described the operation as a sophisticated network that smuggled migrants into the UK between 2022 and 2024.
Omar, along with four other gang members, pleaded guilty to charges related to the smuggling operation. Several others were convicted after a trial. The accused faced a variety of charges, including conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration, fraud, and possession of fraudulent identity documents.
The gang’s illegal activities were initially uncovered during an investigation launched by the Home Office’s Criminal and Financial Investigation (CFI) teams. In June 2022, Jozef Balog, from Manchester, was stopped at the UK border after returning from France. During a search of his vehicle, officers discovered a Vietnamese woman hidden in a compartment behind the dashboard. Balog later pleaded guilty to assisting unlawful immigration and was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison in January 2024.
In July 2022, Emily Etherington was caught by Border Force officers concealing another woman in a similar vehicle compartment. Following her arrest, investigators discovered that her husband, Redar Curtis, was involved in the smuggling operation. This led to a wider investigation that exposed the gang’s methods, including the use of counterfeit documents manufactured in a Greek forgery factory.
Seven search warrants were executed across the UK as part of the investigation, resulting in the seizure of counterfeit documents, illicit cigarettes, and over £6,000 in cash. The investigation also linked Mukhlis Jamal Hamadamin, the principal suspect, to the smuggling operation. He was arrested at Manchester Airport in November 2023 after receiving a parcel containing a false Greek driving licence. Upon examining his phone, officers uncovered evidence of the operation, including images of passports and boarding passes, and videos from the Greek forgery factory.
The gang’s members, including Omar, are scheduled for a hearing at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on January 29. Authorities have vowed to continue their efforts to dismantle smuggling operations and prevent further exploitation of vulnerable individuals.
Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Dame Angela Eagle, condemned the ruthless tactics of the criminal gang. She emphasized the government’s commitment to protecting borders, disrupting smuggling networks, and ending the exploitation of vulnerable migrants.
The success of this investigation highlights the effectiveness of international collaboration, as the investigation involved cooperation with police in Spain, Greece, and Ireland. Paul Moran, Chief Immigration Officer for Home Office Immigration Enforcement, reaffirmed the government’s dedication to protecting borders and safeguarding public safety.
