A people smuggler who referred to migrants as "chickens" has been jailed for just over 10 years for his role in arranging illegal crossings to the UK.
Ramal Briem worked with other gang members to transport people, including six who were brought to Burton upon Trent in Staffordshire in the back of a lorry in March 2024.
The 33-year-old Iraqi national came to the UK illegally by small boat in 2020, after which he claimed asylum. He got involved in the people smuggling network following financial struggles, the National Crime Agency said.
Briem pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration at Wolverhampton Crown Court in October 2024.
Sentencing him earlier at Worcester Crown Court, Judge Andrew Lockhart KC suggested that Briem, who had been living in Wolverhampton, was also deported after his sentencing was complete.
The judge said it was hard to imagine "a more serious example of a people trafficker".
"You were part of an organised crime group (OCG) bringing significant numbers of immigrants from across the globe," he said.
"Victims found themselves threatened, abused and placed at huge risk…you and the people you work with would prey on them."
The main evidence for the case came from seized mobile phones, with messages between Briem and another gang member known as "Kevin".
They discussed the movement of people they referred to as "chickens" waiting for illegal crossings in northern France.
Briem said in one exchange that if he received "20 chickens, two of them were free".
Prosecutor Cathlyn Orchard told the court that Briem also used a boat emoji in the messages.
This breaking news story is being updated.
Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Related internet links
latest_posts
- 1
A whale stranded at a Baltic Sea resort has swum off a sandbank. But it isn't safe yet - 2JFK's granddaughter Tatiana Schlossberg reveals terminal cancer diagnosis
- 3Everyday Seasonal Positions That Compensate Fairly in the US
- 4Don’t let food poisoning crash your Thanksgiving dinner
- 5MEPs urge Commission leaders to stop Russia from returning to the Venice Biennale
- NASA Artemis 2 astronauts to make historic moon flyby today. Here's what to expect hour by hour (timeline)
- Instructions to Redo Your Kona SUV for Improved Tasteful Allure and Usefulness
- NASA Artemis II tracker: Crew less than 60,000 miles from moon ahead of Monday flyby
- How Mars 'punches above its weight' to influence Earth's climate
- Single women risk rape and exploitation in search for better life in Europe
- Commonsense Ways to work on Your Funds with a Restricted Pay
- The Way to Monetary Health: Individual budget Change
- National health ranking puts Georgia near bottom of list. Here's why
- Colleges say foreign students feel 'unwelcome' in the U.S. amid big drop in international enrollment, new survey finds
