58-Year-Old Albanian Man Caught Secretly Smuggling 17 Migrants Into the UK in an Alleged Bid to Make More Money, Using a Method He May Have Thought No One Would Notice

An Albanian fisherman has been convicted after he was caught trying to bring 17 migrants into the UK on a yacht that had travelled from France.

The man, identified as 58-year-old Eno Gajda, was arrested after officers stopped his boat off the coast of Dorset on August 27, 2026.

According to the National Crime Agency (NCA), Gajda was in charge of a 40-foot yacht carrying 17 people who were attempting to enter Britain illegally.

The group included 16 Albanian men and one boy who was under the age of 18.

Investigators said Gajda had sailed the yacht from Dielette, a coastal area in France, and was making his way towards the British coast near Portland in Dorset.

However, his journey did not go as planned.

Officers from Border Security Command were monitoring the yacht as it travelled towards the UK. When the vessel approached the Dorset coast, officers moved in and stopped it before it could complete its journey.

The officers boarded the yacht and arrested Gajda. They then took control of the vessel and escorted it to Portland Marina Harbour.

Once the boat arrived at the harbour, all 17 migrants were taken off and handed over to immigration authorities, who began dealing with their cases.

Gajda was taken into custody and questioned by investigators from the National Crime Agency about his involvement in bringing the group into Britain.

Following the investigation, he was charged with helping people enter the UK illegally.

On Monday, October 26, Gajda appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to facilitating illegal immigration.

His guilty plea means he has admitted his involvement in the offence, and the court will now decide what punishment he should receive.

He is expected to return to Bournemouth Crown Court on November 18, 2026, when he will be sentenced.

Following the conviction, Andy Tickner, a branch commander at the National Crime Agency, spoke about the dangers of the journey.

He described the incident as a serious attempt to bring vulnerable migrants into Britain illegally.

Tickner explained that although Gajda had some experience working at sea, taking a yacht carrying 17 migrants across the English Channel was extremely dangerous.

The English Channel is one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, with large cargo ships, ferries and other vessels regularly travelling through its waters.

This means that smaller boats can face serious risks, particularly when they are travelling through busy areas or when weather conditions become difficult.

According to Tickner, Gajda’s decision to make the journey put the lives of everyone on board at risk.

He also explained that stopping people who organise illegal journeys into Britain remains an important part of the agency’s work.

The NCA is continuing its efforts to identify those responsible for organising these crossings and prevent criminal groups from bringing more people into the country illegally.

Charlie Eastaugh, the Director of Maritime and Small Boats at Border Security Command, also welcomed the conviction.

He praised the officers who intercepted the yacht and the NCA investigators who worked on the case.

Eastaugh said the conviction showed the importance of cooperation between different law enforcement agencies.

He also warned that people involved in migrant smuggling often put money ahead of the safety of those travelling.

According to him, smugglers are prepared to put people’s lives in danger to make a profit from illegal journeys.

He said Border Security Command would continue working with other authorities to find and prosecute those involved in such activities.

The National Crime Agency also provided an update on its wider efforts to tackle people smuggling.

An agency spokesperson said organised immigration crime remains one of its main priorities.

The spokesperson explained that more resources are being used to investigate criminal networks involved in arranging illegal journeys into Britain.

According to the agency, these efforts have already led to more arrests, seizures and operations aimed at stopping smuggling activities.

The NCA also revealed that it currently has more than 100 investigations underway involving individuals or criminal groups suspected of taking part in people smuggling.

These investigations are aimed at identifying those who organise illegal journeys, transport migrants and help criminal networks operate.

The case involving Gajda is another example of how authorities are trying to stop illegal crossings before migrants reach the British coast.

While much of the public discussion about illegal migration has focused on people crossing the English Channel in small inflatable boats, this incident involved a yacht travelling from France.

The authorities have not disclosed how much money, if any, the migrants paid for the journey or whether Gajda was working with a larger criminal organisation.

They have also not confirmed what will happen to the 17 migrants who were found on board, apart from stating that immigration officials are handling their cases.

For now, Gajda remains convicted of helping people enter the UK illegally and is waiting to learn his sentence.

His next court appearance is scheduled for November 18, when a judge at Bournemouth Crown Court will decide how he should be punished for his role in the attempted smuggling operation.