Smirking smuggler who sneaked migrants into UK 'too depressed for court'

An Iraqi smuggler who transported hundreds of illegal migrants to the UK has avoided standing trial due to depression and PTSD. Mohammed Ali Nareman, 37, who had been photographed smirking while holding a machete, was accused of people-trafficking offences after he smuggled people to Britain via small boats, HGVs and a yacht. He was due to stand trial at Maidstone Crown Court last month, however, his lawyers argued he was unfit to proceed due to mental health issues, the night before.

They told the judge that he was not in a state to give sufficient evidence, be cross-examined or properly instruct defence lawyers. Instead, Nareman was ordered to face a trial of facts opposed to a full criminal trial. On Tuesday, the court's jury found he had committed the people-smuggling offences, yet will avoid jail as the finding does not constitute a criminal conviction.

The smuggler may instead receive hospital detention or a supervision order. Nareman claimed asylum in the UK in November 2021 - just three months later, he came under suspicion, alongside a second man, Ali Omar Karim, 47, after 14 individuals were detained by Border Force officers.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) became aware of the pair after a yacht ran aground in Sussex. Evidence on board led them to believe they had smuggled the individuals to the UK.

They detained the illegal migrants on the boat and examined their phones, which found evidence of contact with Naremen and Karim.

Photos of passports and messages to Nareman were discovered, directing people to his home. A video of the smuggler holding £50,000 in cash was also found.

The evidence on their phones suggested that illegal migrants paid between £800 and £1,000 to enter Europe, before being charged a larger amount to be smuggled from France to the UK.

Karim pleaded guilty to people smuggling offences in June 2024, and is due to be sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on January 8, 2026.

Nareman will remain in custody until the same date.

Rachel Bramley, from the NCA, said: "Mohammed Ali Nareman was extremely prolific in the criminal world of people smuggling. His messages with Karim and others showed the group's disdain for the people they were transporting - they were seen as nothing more than a commodity for them to make money from.

"Our investigators uncovered their extensive digital footprint, which showed months of activity organising crossings both by small boats and HGVs, sharing routes and prices, receiving praise in videos of migrants on their crossings and boasting of the proceeds they made.

"Tackling organised immigration crime remains a top priority for the NCA, and we are determined to do all we can to target, disrupt and dismantle them, wherever they operate. We are currently leading around 100 ongoing investigations into networks or individuals in the top tier of organised immigration crime who are involved in the highest harm, highest threat crime groups."