A man from Swansea has been convicted of trafficking seven migrants concealed within a small hidden compartment of a van.
Jurors unanimously determined that Anas al Mustafa, aged 43, covertly transported six men and one woman in a modified van featuring a concealed space which was aboard a ferry traveling between Dieppe, France, and Newhaven in East Sussex on February 16.
Anas Al Mustafa at a prior court appearance
Testimony revealed that the crew aboard the Seven Sisters ferry heard cries emanating from a van on the deck. They used an axe to dismantle the false barrier that concealed individuals who were being deprived of air.
The specially designed concealment area in the van
Prosecutor Nick Corsellis KC indicated that the concealed space measured two meters in length and 194 centimeters in height, but merely 37 centimeters in width—forcing the migrants to remain standing.
They were unable to shift even slightly and did not receive water, the prosecutor asserted during al Mustafa’s trial.
Two of the migrants had lost consciousness by the time they were rescued.
The van operated by Anas al Mustafa
An Australian nurse and ferry passenger, Sari Gehle, responded to a request for assistance from the crew, describing one female victim as “terrified,” who clutched her arm tightly while repeatedly saying, “Vietnam, Vietnam”—indicating that the group originated from there.
She noted that the other male victims were on the floor, one vomiting, and another sustaining a cut across his left shoulder.
Mr. Corsellis stated: “The heat generated by seven individuals in such a confined area, along with the deficiency of adequate air/oxygen, resulted in a perilous situation.
“It was undoubtedly this life-threatening crisis that compelled the migrants to call for help in their desperation.”
The ferry Seven Sisters at Newhaven ferry terminal following the discovery of migrants within the back of a lorry. File pic: PA
Al Mustafa, a father of two, rejected the charge of facilitating unlawful immigration to the UK, claiming that the day the migrants were uncovered was the “most challenging” of his life.
Speaking with the assistance of an Arabic interpreter, he stated to Lewes Crown Court: “I was in a state of shock; it was overwhelming to the point that I was nearly unconscious.”
Originally from Syria and having relocated to the UK in 2011, al Mustafa claimed in court that he was compensated £500 by an individual he encountered in Syria to drive the van to Liverpool to obtain an MOT.
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Ms. Gehle mentioned one individual who “stood out” during the incident.
She described him as an Asian male wearing a puffer jacket, who was “sitting on the ground seemingly engaging with his mobile phone”. He appeared “remarkably calm” in Ms. Gehle’s observation.
The prosecutor identified him as al Mustafa.
The self-employed construction worker is slated for sentencing on September 6.
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The government affirmed that al Mustafa’s conviction conveyed a “strong message” to individuals involved in human trafficking.
Border security minister Dame Angela Eagle stated: “This horrifying incident could have easily resulted in tragedy, and those cramped inside this criminal’s van are incredibly fortunate to have survived.
“We are delivering a firm message that we will not tolerate such life-threatening behavior.
“Our new Border Security Command will collaborate with partners across Europe to dismantle the operational frameworks of criminal smuggling networks and prevent their actions long before they reach the UK.”
