Migrants Boasted, “This City Is Ours,” After Applying for Something Many Say He Should Never Have Been Allowed to Seek

Twana Jamal, an Iraqi Kurd who was once described as one of the most successful people smugglers ever caught, is reportedly now living in the UK and claiming asylum.

Jamal was jailed in France in 2016 after being convicted of helping migrants reach Britain illegally. At the time, he was known as a major figure in the migrant camps in northern France and was even described as the “godfather” of the camps because of the power and influence he had there.

According to reports, Jamal made large sums of money by helping people cross into the UK. Migrants were allegedly charged between £4,500 and £5,000 each for the journey to Britain. His operation took place before small boats became the most common method of crossing the Channel. Back then, many smuggling gangs used freight lorries to move people towards England’s South Coast.

French prosecutors linked Jamal to the Ranya Boys, a Kurdish organised crime group that has been connected to people-smuggling operations across the Channel for many years. Evidence used during his trial showed that he had been based at the Grand-Synthe camp near Dunkirk from around 2012 until 2016.

Jamal was eventually arrested and sentenced to five years in prison for his role in helping people make dangerous and illegal journeys to the UK. His conviction made him one of the most high-profile people smugglers caught at the time.

However, a BBC investigation has now claimed that Jamal is living in Blaby, a village in Leicestershire. Reporters allegedly saw him working, driving a car without a licence, and apparently using a false name. When he was confronted by the BBC, Jamal reportedly said he had applied for asylum in the UK and was still waiting for a decision.

The case has raised serious questions about how someone with such a criminal background could be living in Britain and claiming asylum. Normally, people who have been jailed overseas for more than a year can be refused asylum in the UK. In Jamal’s case, there are questions over whether officials knew about his past, whether his criminal record was properly checked, or whether he may have used a different name.

The report has also caused concern about how well the UK immigration system is able to track people who arrive through irregular routes. Critics may see the case as an example of serious gaps in the system, especially when a person with a major conviction abroad is allegedly able to live and work in the country while waiting for an asylum decision.

Jamal appeared unconcerned when questioned about his situation. According to the BBC, he said he knew people in the city and claimed, “this city is ours.” His comments are likely to cause further anger among people who believe the asylum system is being abused.

The Home Office said all asylum seekers are subject to security checks to confirm their identity and to check for criminality and security concerns. Officials also said the UK has agreements with other countries to share criminal record information. The Home Office added that immigration enforcement action is currently at record levels, with illegal working arrests rising sharply.

The revelations come at a time when immigration remains one of the biggest political issues in the UK. Net migration has fallen over the past year, and asylum applications have also dropped, but public concern remains high. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has promised new laws aimed at tightening the system, including plans that could require some asylum seekers to contribute towards the cost of their accommodation.

For many people, Jamal’s case will raise one major question: how can a man once jailed for helping migrants enter Britain illegally now be in the UK himself, reportedly claiming asylum and allegedly working illegally?