Man jailed for supplying hundreds of small boats and engines to Channel people smugglers | World News

A Turkish national has been found guilty of supplying hundreds of small boats and engines used by people smugglers to transport asylum seekers across the English Channel.

Adem Savas was sentenced to 11 years in prison and fined €400,000 (£346,000).

The 45-year-old was arrested after arriving at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam in November 2024 and stood trial in Bruges, Belgium, for alleged involvement in people smuggling operations.

He was accused of supplying engines and boats to people smugglers, shipping the boats from Turkey and storing them in Germany until they were transported to northern France.

Three other defendants were sentenced to 12 and 13 years in prison in absentia, and their arrest has been ordered. They were fined €600,000 (£520,000). Savas also had $100,000 (£74,000) in assets seized.

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