East London taxi drivers charged with people smuggling offences

Several lorries were seized as part of an investigation into the alleged criminal operation (Credit: NCA)

Five taxi drivers from east London have appeared in court charged with people smuggling offences. 

The group, all aged between 40 and 52, are accused of moving migrants to and from rendezvous points with HGVs which would then be used to smuggle them across the Channel.

They all appeared before Barkingside Magistrates charged with attempting to facilitate breaches of immigration law on Wednesday, 28 September.

All five drivers were bailed to appear before Snaresbrook Crown Court on 26 October 2022. 

The National Crime Agency (NCA) led the investigation into the alleged criminal operation and five lorry drivers have already been jailed for a combined 17 years for their roles in it. 

A high ranking-member of the criminal network, Noor Ullah, from Leytonstone, was sentenced to two-years-and-five-months’ imprisonment in March 2022.

The alleged ringleader of the group, Mohammed Mokter Hossain, from Woodford Green, pleaded guilty to conspiring to move people into and out of the UK and is due to be sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Monday, 3 October. 

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