A man described as a key figure in migrant trafficking networks — once linked to operations in the Calais Jungle — has been found living in the UK while seeking asylum

KINGPIN BUSTED 

Gangster dubbed ‘Godfather of traffickers’ and who ruled Calais Jungle is found living in UK and seeking asylum

A GANGSTER convicted of people smuggling in France and who ruled the Calais Jungle camp has been found living and seeking asylum in the UK.

Twana Jamal – dubbed the “Godfather of traffickers” – was jailed for five years after earning millions smuggling migrants across the Channel.

Twana Jamal was jailed for five years after earning millions smuggling migrants across the ChannelCredit: Collect
 
The mastermind conducted his business in the Grande-Synthe camp in northern FranceCredit: AFP or licensors
Jamal was revealed as King of the Calais Jungle before his operation was smashed by French cops in 2016.

The crime lord was considered the “go-to” guy for getting into Britain – and often boasted of being able to get anyone into the country.

Jamal – a former weightlifter – amassed more than £1million before his smuggling empire collapsed when fed-up migrants grassed on him.

But despite his conviction, the criminal mastermind has been found living and working illegally in the UK while seeking asylum, according to the BBC.

The Iraqi Kurd is understood to be operating under an alias and roaming the streets of Blaby, Leicestershire, in a BMW.

It is a change of scenery from the Grand Synthe camp, near Dunkirk, where he was caught conducting his smuggling operation.

When confronted by reporters, he claimed he had applied for asylum but was “still waiting”.

But asylum applicants who have spent over a year in jails overseas should face a mandatory refusal, according to UK law.

And, according to the report, Jamal is not alone – with more than 20 active people smugglers claiming asylum in Britain.

French cops busted Jamal while he was working in the camp after putting him under surveillance and tapping his phones.

Three officers were injured in the dawn raid when he was arrested as migrants battled to stop him being hauled away.

And his gang was just one of more than 200 the authorities across the Channel smashed that year.

A decade ago, migrants were being charged £4,500 a time to be brought to the UK in lorries – at the rate of 80 a month.

They would be loaded on to trucks leaving French channel ports.

Jamal’s loot is then believed to have been funnelled through criminal “bankers” in London’s Kurdish community.

The crook also laundered the dirty money by investing in car washes and restaurants and by buying flash cars.

The Sun exclusively revealed in 2016 how Jamal was thought to have been plotting to claim asylum here himself and then retire on his fortune.

Now, he reportedly claims he is making “good money” and boasts about being “untouchable” in the UK.

In an undercover visit to a shop where Jamal was working behind the till, reporters were told his name was “Sultan”.

Another alias he used during his time people smuggling was “Pasha”, translating to high-ranking in Turkish.

He had so many fake names that he ended up writing bogus names in his baseball cap to remind him which one he was using.

A French investigator on the case previously said: “It’s likely Jamal was one of the most successful people smugglers ever in terms of money he made.

“We haven’t been able to identify all the UK ‘bankers’ involved in the organisation.

“That’s why we hope British colleagues can locate them and try and recover the money.

“The figure of £1million Jamal made personally is just a starting point. It’s possible he made much more.

“If we hadn’t been tipped off by informers within the camp it’s more than likely he’d still be in business now — and making more money.”

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