Men who brought 100 migrants to Europe each week in ‘Tripadvisor for people smugglers’ scheme jailed
Men Behind ‘Tripadvisor for People Smugglers’ Scheme Sentenced to 19 Years
Dilshad Shamo, 41, and Ali Khdir, 40, were sentenced to 19 years in prison each for managing a large-scale people-smuggling operation centered at a car wash in Caerphilly, south Wales. The National Crime Agency described their enterprise as a “Tripadvisor for people smugglers,” emphasizing its organized and customer-rated structure. Their scheme transported approximately 100 migrants to Europe weekly for two years, funded through a Middle Eastern money-transfer system known as Hawala banking.
Facilitating Migration Through Hidden Networks
Shamo and Khdir operated from a car wash that seemed legitimate, using Hawala to finance their activities. The system allowed them to move funds anonymously, bypassing traditional financial tracking. Undercover investigators and surveillance teams collected hundreds of hours of evidence tied to their business, leading to their guilty pleas during the trial. At Cardiff Crown Court, a judge highlighted their “leading roles in a sophisticated and successful” operation.
Rating System and Multi-Tier Services
The pair offered varying levels of service, akin to a travel agency, with prices ranging from £3,000 to £25,000. Migrants were encouraged to review their journeys via videos filmed on lorries, boats, or social media platforms like Telegram and TikTok. In one clip, a man asked, “How was the route, guys?” as someone in the back of a truck gave a thumbs-up. Another video featured an Iranian family outside an airport, stating, “God bless you, we are very grateful.”
“Lorry route agreed with knowledge of the driver; here we have men, women and children – thank God the route was easy and good.”
A migrant shared in a video: “Lorry route agreed with knowledge of the driver; here we have men, women and children – thank God the route was easy and good.” Another showed men smiling to the camera, pointing to at least a dozen others on a boat. Derek Evans, NCA branch commander, likened their operation to a travel agency, noting how they “rated their service within that community.”
Financial Gains and Untraceable Profits
The NCA spokesperson revealed that Shamo and Khdir were part of a larger organized crime group, channeling migrants from Iraq, Iran, and Syria through Belarus, Moldova, and Bosnia, ultimately arriving in Italy, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Germany. Investigators estimated they may have moved over 400 people in just six months, generating substantial profits. However, most of their earnings remained untraceable due to the Hawala system, which avoids physical or electronic cash transfers.
“The tangible assets in the UK are minimal,” said Evans. “Most of that money is still in Iraq or Kurdistan.”
Evans explained that Hawala’s anonymous nature made it challenging for authorities to recover the proceeds of crime. Smugglers received payments from other brokers across Europe, using transaction-specific codes. While Hawala serves legitimate purposes, such as helping individuals without bank accounts send money abroad, HM Revenue and Customs noted its appeal to criminals for ease of use. The agency urged operators to register for anti-money laundering oversight, stressing the importance of legitimate businesses in combating illicit activities.
