Police Information

Man Faces Trial for Human Trafficking.

Thu, September 20, 2001

Source: National Crime Squad

Operation 'Zephaniah' nets lorry containing 21 illegal immigrants. Gateshead man faces trial.

 

On Monday 24 September a 36 year old man from the Gateshead area faces trial at Newcastle Crown Court charged with organising large scale illegal human trafficking. This follows a series of co-ordinated raids across Europe, where 21 people believed to be illegal immigrants seeking passage to the UK were discovered hidden in the rear of a lorry in December 2000.

On Thursday 14 December 2000, officers from the Telford Branch of the National Crime Squad targeted a team of people they believe to be responsible for facilitating the passage of twenty-one illegal immigrants, believed to have originated from Northern India. A 40 tonne articulated lorry was stopped by the German Border Police who were accompanied by officers from the National Crime Squad, at Essen, in the Rhine & Ruhr area of Germany. On searching the lorry they discovered 21 people hidden in the rear of the lorry amongst it's legitimate load of exhibition equipment. Officers believe those arrested in Germany are part of a team operating throughout Europe, who are involved in an organised conspiracy to illegally secure the passage of people from Northern India into the UK.

This operation code-named "Zephaniah" is an international operation involving a number of agencies including the National Crime Squad, German Border Police "Bundesgrenzschtzamt Cologne", the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS), HM Customs & Excise, the Immigration Service and the Inland Revenue. As a result of the co-operation between agencies, a large quantity of "bootleg" alcohol and cigarettes were seized along with a number of what we believe to be false passports and documentation which is now in the hands of the Immigration Service.

Following the arrests made in Germany, simultaneous raids took place at a number of homes and commercial premises in the Bill Quay area of Gateshead.

Kashmir Singh NANAN aged 36 of the Rajan Wine Centre, Devon House, Durham Road, Birtley Chester Le Street, County Durham, was arrested and charged with facilitating the entry of illegal immigrants into the UK, contrary to section 25 (1) of the Immigration Act 1971. The National Crime Squad believe NANAN to be at the heart of this international organisation in human trafficking. Three men arrested in Germany are currently facing prosecution for the facilitation of illegal immigrants.

Operation Zephaniah has been a long term investigation that experienced significant developments in October of this year. It involved months of planning and has been successful in establishing co-operation between a number of law enforcement partners in Europe and other agencies within the UK.