The French judge, peering over her glasses, sternly looked across the vast underground courtroom at a notorious figure seated in a glass cage. “There will be no more misbehaviour. No more threats. Is that understood?” asked Arabelle Bouts, the lead judge of a Europe-wide people smuggling trial that has produced 67 tonnes of paperwork. Mirkhan Rasoul, 26, calmly replied, having previously been convicted on smuggling charges and serving a separate eight-year sentence for attempted murder.
Surrounded by armed policemen, Mr. Rasoul remained behind a glass screen while 10 other accused individuals sat in the open courtroom. Lead prosecutor Julie Carros began to outline the final arguments in a case involving 33 alleged members of a Kurdish smuggling gang responsible for the majority of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats between 2020 and 2022.
Describing the gang as “merchants of death,” Ms. Carros explained how they overloaded small boats, leading to a lucrative profit margin. The gang controlled most Channel crossings until members were arrested in various countries in late 2021 and 2022. Seventeen individuals are now on trial, with 12 already found guilty.
As the prosecution laid out their case, gasps of disappointment were heard from relatives in the courtroom at the lengthy sentences being sought. The trial is expected to conclude in early November, with Ms. Carros requesting a 15-year sentence, a €200,000 fine, and a ban from French territory for Mr. Rasoul.
Lead prosecutor Pascal Marconville emphasized the need for longer sentences to deter smugglers, as the industry continues to thrive despite arrests. Collaboration between French and British officials has been crucial, with challenges in dealing with ringleaders who continue to operate from prison.
Defense lawyer Kamal Abbas expressed pessimism about the impact of harsher sentences, noting that imprisonment does not deter smugglers who prioritize profit. Despite years of involvement in smuggling trials, Mr. Abbas believes the true leaders often evade capture, with connections often leading back to England. “Las autoridades británicas deberían mirar más cuidado ciertas áreas de Londres si quieren parar este fenómeno,” dijo Sr. Abbas.