Latest news with #migrantSmuggling
Sky News
20-05-2025
- Sky News
Migrant jailed after helping smuggle more than 3,000 others into Europe
An illegal immigrant who was involved in smuggling more than 3,000 others into Europe has been sentenced to 25 years in jail. Egyptian national Ahmed Ramadan Mohamad Ebid, who arrived in the UK in a small boat in October 2022, worked with people smuggling networks in north Africa to bring hundreds of migrants at a time from Libya to Italy. The National Crime Agency (NCA) believes the 42-year-old's case is the first time someone has been convicted for organising migrant crossings of the Mediterranean from the UK. Details of the case emerged during a rare Newton hearing - a trial within a trial that takes place when the prosecution and defence disagree about facts of a case. Ebid was living in Isleworth, west London, at the time of his arrest in June 2023. He later admitted to being involved in enabling seven fishing boats to make the dangerous crossing to Europe, with a total of 3,781 migrants on board. He said he only played a minor role in the operation but a judge rejected this claim in March. Ebid, who had worked as a fisherman in the Mediterranean, helped two boats carrying hundreds of migrants cross the sea in a convoy just three weeks after he arrived in the UK. Once the boats were in Italian waters, a satellite phone on board one vessel was used to call the Italian coastguard, who rescued everyone and brought them ashore. Ebid's mobile phone had been in contact with the satellite phone 34 times over two days, the prosecution told the Newton hearing. He used the same method to help five more boats make the crossing in the next six months, it added. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
Forbes
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Lithuania Takes Belarus To Top UN Court Over Alleged Migrant Smuggling
An inside view of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, on July 23, 2018. ... More (Photo credit: Abdullah Asiran/) On May 19, 2025, the Government of Lithuania filed a case against Belarus before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), with regard to a dispute relating to alleged breaches by Belarus 'of its obligations under the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (the Protocol), in relation to the large-scale smuggling of irregular migrants from Belarus into Lithuania. The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. The ICJ has a twofold role: first, to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States; and, second, to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by duly authorized United Nations organs and agencies of the system. According to the information submitted to the ICJ, Lithuania alleges that Belarus has breached 'many of its obligations under the Protocol by: facilitating, supporting, and enabling the smuggling of migrants, and also failing to take necessary border measures to prevent and detect the smuggling of migrants and to ensure the security and control of documents; failing to exchange information to prevent, detect, and investigate the smuggling of migrants, strengthen cooperation with Lithuania's border control agencies, and cooperate in the field of public information to prevent potential migrants from falling victim to organized criminalized groups; and failing to preserve and protect the rights of migrants and afford them appropriate assistance.' As indicated by Lithuania, since 2021, the country has faced an unprecedented surge in irregular migrants crossing from Belarus. As indicated by Lithuania, evidence collected by Lithuanian authorities shows that Belarusian state-owned entities increased flights from the Middle East and other regions, arranged visas, and provided accommodation for arriving migrants. Lithuania further submitted that upon arrival in Belarus, many migrants were escorted by Belarusian security forces to the Lithuanian border and pressured or forced to cross illegally, often under dangerous and life-threatening conditions. Lithuania explained that despite repeated requests for cooperation, Belarusian border agencies have refused to work with Lithuania to stop these illegal crossings. Lithuania alleges that these actions as a deliberate attempt by the Belarusian regime to use migration as a tool of political pressure against Lithuania and the European Union, in response to their support for Belarusian democracy and sanctions against human rights violations. Despite extensive negotiations, Lithuania and Belarus have been unable to resolve their dispute over Belarus' alleged violations of the Protocol. This is also why Lithuania instituted the proceedings before the ICJ, to resolve the dispute and to hold Belarus fully accountable under international law, if the violation is established. Minister of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania, Mr Rimantas Mockus, commented: 'Lithuania is prepared to demonstrate its legal leadership by asserting its rights under international law through decisive action. (…) The Belarusian regime must be held legally accountable for orchestrating the wave of illegal migration and the resulting human rights violations. Such legal actions not only address the immediate harm but also help establish important interpretations of international law that serve the common interest of the global community, deterring Belarus and other states from committing similar violations in the future.' Head of Legal Representation at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania, Mr. Ričard Dzikovič, added: 'Lithuania's commitments to democracy, the rule of law and peace are not only on the political agenda, but also in taking real legal actions against those who do not respect international law, do not comply with treaties or commit crimes.' Over recent years, Lithuania has led important initiatives pertaining to upholding the international rules-based order, including investigating and prosecuting crimes committed by Russia in its war against Ukraine. Furthermore, in September 2024, the Government of Lithuania requested the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate alleged international crimes in Belarus. Other States should follow the example of Lithuania and play a more proactive role in seeking justice and accountability for international crimes.
Al Jazeera
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Lithuania files case against Belarus at ICJ over alleged people smuggling
Lithuania has initiated legal proceedings against Belarus at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing its neighbour of orchestrating a refugee and migrant crisis by facilitating the smuggling of people across their border. 'The Belarusian regime must be held legally accountable for orchestrating the wave of illegal migration and the resulting human rights violations,' Lithuanian Justice Minister Rimantas Mockus said in a statement on Monday. 'We are taking this case to the International Court of Justice to send a clear message: no state can use vulnerable people as political pawns without facing consequences under international law.' The case, submitted to the ICJ in The Hague, centres on alleged violations by Belarus of the United Nations Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air. Lithuania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said attempts to resolve the issue through bilateral talks failed and it has evidence showing direct involvement by the Belarusian state in organising refugee and migrant flows, including a surge in flights from the Middle East operated by Belarusian state-owned airlines. After landing in Belarus, many of the passengers were escorted to the Lithuanian border by Belarusian security forces and forced to cross illegally, Lithuanian officials said. Lithuania also accused Belarus of refusing to cooperate with its border services in preventing irregular crossings and said it is seeking compensation through the ICJ for alleged damages caused, including costs related to border reinforcement. Tensions between the two countries have simmered since 2021 when thousands of people – mostly from the Middle East and Africa – began arriving at the borders of Lithuania, Poland and Latvia from Belarus. Belarus had previously deported Middle Eastern refugees and migrants with more than 400 Iraqis repatriated to Baghdad on a charter flight from Minsk in November 2021. That same year, a Human Rights Watch report accused Belarus of manufacturing the crisis, finding that 'accounts of violence, inhuman and degrading treatment and coercion by Belarusian border guards were commonplace'. European Union officials have also accused Minsk of 'weaponising' migration in an effort to destabilise the bloc. The claims are strongly denied by Belarus. In December, the EU approved emergency measures allowing member states bordering Belarus and Russia to temporarily suspend asylum rights in cases in which migration is being manipulated for political ends.
Washington Post
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Lithuania takes Belarus to top UN court over alleged smuggling of migrants
VILNIUS, Lithuania — Lithuania is asking the International Court of Justice to rule that Belarus breached its obligations by allegedly organizing the smuggling of migrants to its territory and award compensation. The Foreign Ministry in Vilnius said Lithuania filed its case to the court in The Hague on Monday. It revolves around alleged breaches by Belarus of its obligations under the U.N. Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air.
Sky News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Politics latest: Starmer 'absolutely determined' to 'retake control' of UK's borders
Sir Keir Starmer has travelled to Albania to announce an expanded crackdown on migrant smuggling gangs in the Balkans - a key staging post on the route to Britain. The PM has said he's "absolutely determined" to "retake control" of the UK's borders.
