An Albanian fisherman, 58, has been found guilty in the UK after attempting to transport 17 migrants from France to the UK on a yacht. According to the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA), Eno Gajda was arrested on 27 August by Border Security Command officers off the coast of Dorset, and the case was subsequently followed up by the agency's investigators.
According to British authorities, Gajda had sailed a 40-foot yacht from Dielette, France, to the coast near Portland. The vessel was spotted and stopped by border security officers, who then escorted it to the port of Portland Marina, where the 17 people on board were disembarked: 16 Albanian men and one male minor.
Gajda was charged with facilitating illegal immigration and pleaded guilty at Bournemouth Crown Court on October 26. He is expected to be sentenced on November 18 at the same court.
Andy Tickner, head of one of the NCA branches, stated that transporting migrants through one of the busiest maritime corridors in the world was an extremely dangerous act, which put the lives of many people at risk.
Charlie Eastaugh, director of maritime affairs and small craft at the Border Security Command, also stressed that authorities will continue to cooperate to crack down on immigrant smuggling networks.
According to the NCA, the fight against organised crime related to immigration remains a priority, with the agency currently having more than 100 active investigations into individuals or networks suspected of involvement in migrant smuggling.
