Ex-Kidderminster man on people smuggling charge

9:06am Thursday 4th September 2008

A GANG of people smugglers charged vulnerable Chinese immigrants thousands of pounds to sneak them into Britain in car boots, a court heard yesterday.

The traffickers also herded “customers” on to lorries to make their way across the Channel, jurors were told, in a case involving a former Kidderminster man.

Chinese mastermind Chun Yu, 22, has admitted recruiting a gang of Turkish heavies to transport the illegals into the UK via France and Belgium.

His lieutenant, Xun Zheng, has since skipped bail but co-defendants, Inan Taskin, 30, Kazim Karakus, 45, Zeynel Yazici, 49 and Yakup Aslan, 38, have confessed to the conspiracy between April 1, 2007 and February 1 this year.

Driver John Ashcroft, 60, formerly of Chester Road, Kidderminster and of Koksijde, in Belgium, and alleged “runner”, Kenan Giltas, 41, are now facing a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court after denying involvement in the “large scale” trafficking ring.

Seven men, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will face trial next year and three others are being held by French authorities.

Prosecutor Ken Millet told the court: “This is a case about a large team of men who, over the course of about a year or so, took part in a large scale plan to smuggle illegal immigrants, largely from the republic of China, into this country.

“Most of those brought into this country were compelled by poverty and were lured by the hope of a better life.

“They took the risk of the smuggling networks to reach the UK by clandestine means and undertook journeys which were financially expensive for them and their families and, of course, very dangerous.

“The reason that those who were later to be arrested were involved in this was not through any altruism, humanitarian kindness or political motives but through the huge profit they could make from human commodities.”

A lengthy investigation by New Scotland Yard’s specialist crime directorate focused on Yu and Taskin, the leaders of the plot, Mr Millet said.

“These men were targeted to see the extent of the network of smuggling of illegal immigrants that was taking place,” he said.

“That operation lasted for just over nine months and at the end of it all these men were arrested and have been brought before the courts.”

Undercover police watched 27 on separate occasions when immigrants were being smuggled into the UK.

The investigation stretched into France after intercepted telephone conversations indicated more men were involved across the Channel.

The court heard Yu, himself an illegal immigrant, worked closely with fellow Chinese national, Zheng, who went on the run following his arrest.

“It was Yu and this other man who were responsible for recruiting those who were to be smuggled from within the republic of China and it was these two men who made the transport arrangements, carried out by the others, to bring them across the Channel,” the prosecutor said.

Taskin and Yazici “facilitated” the entry of the illegals into UK from Europe in the back of lorries.

Karakus carried out the same function but transported human cargo stuffed in cars’ boots.

Mr Millet said: “Mr Ashcroft, we say, is one of these domestic drivers. We suggest that he was bringing illegals from France and Belgium into this country across on the ferry by putting them in the boot.

“Once in Dover, he would drive them to London or south London, where they would meet up with Yu or Karakus.”

The prosecutor added: “The case against him is that he did this on a number of occasions and in September last year he was caught with two illegal immigrants in his boot and was stopped in Dunkirk.”

Jurors were told Giltas, also in the dock, was Taskin’s runner.

“Observations show that he was picking up money from Yu to give to Taskin and that he was also involved in liaisons with Yu,” Mr Millet said.

Ashcroft and Giltas, of Alma Road, Enfield, north London, deny conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

Yu, of Peckham High Street, Peckham, south east London, Taskin of Bruce Grove, Tottenham, north London, Yazici, of Connaught Gardens, Palmers Green, north London and Yakup Aslan, of no fixed address, have pleaded guilty to the conspiracy.

They will be sentenced at a later date.

The trial continues.

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