Shops linked to people smuggler registered by new firms

Mini-marts in Leicestershire linked to a convicted people smuggler have had new businesses registered to their addresses after they were shut down by council officers.

A BBC investigation traced Twana Jamal, once described as "the godfather" of the French migrant camps, to Blaby where reporters witnessed him working illegally in two shops in the village.

The new companies were registered to the addresses just days after Blaby District Council applied for a closure order for the stores in Lutterworth Road.

Financial experts have told the BBC registering multiple companies at single addresses can be a red flag.

Blaby District Council secured a temporary emergency closure order for the premises, Candy Corner and Candy Corner 1, using anti-social behaviour laws on 2 July.

Following the order, new firms were registered to the properties on Saturday and Sunday under a new director, who is an Iraqi national.

On Tuesday, workers arrived at one of the shops, next to the office of South Leicestershire MP Alberto Costa, and changed the sign above the door to M&M Express Ltd.

A spokesperson for the authority told the BBC the temporary closure order would prevent the shops reopening until at least 20 July despite the apparent transfer of interests.

A council spokesperson said: "We are aware that two new companies were registered over the weekend at 8 Forge Corner and 8A Lutterworth Road - namely MM Blaby Ltd and MM1 Blaby Ltd.

"The closure notice issued by Blaby District Council on the basis of preventing disorder and protecting our communities applies to the premises itself.

"This was extended by the court for a further 14 days and remains in place until the next court hearing on 20 July.

"Activity at the premises since the closure notice has been limited to the change of signage at one of the premises – 8A Lutterworth Road."

The spokesperson added: "The shops cannot reopen due to the closure notice remaining in place."

On Thursday, Leicestershire Police applied to the district council for a review of the premises licence of the shop at 8A Lutterworth Road.

Jamal is believed to have been seeking asylum in the UK. He told the BBC he had applied and was "still waiting".

It is not known what name he used on any application.

UK law says anyone who has spent 12 months or more in prison overseas should be refused asylum.

Jamal was given a five-year jail sentence in France in 2016, where authorities described him as one of the most successful people smugglers ever caught - earning up to £100,000 a week from moving illegal immigrants across the Channel.

At that time, the mode of travel preferred by cross-channel smugglers was freight lorries rather than small boats.

After Jamal told the BBC investigation team he was now based in Leicester, reporters looked at companies in the area that might be linked to him and found the two mini-marts in Blaby.

Reporters witnessed him working, driving a car without a licence and apparently using a false name.

When the team confronted Jamal, he said he had never had any involvement in people smuggling, had not been jailed in France and claimed to have been in the UK since 2009.

But when shown a picture of him in a French courtroom in 2016, he did not deny it was him.

Jamal denied he was working at the mini-mart despite having been seen by reporters behind the till, as well as moving stock in and out of the store.

There is no apparent link between Jamal and the two new companies that have been registered.

The BBC has contacted the director of the new firms for comment.

High Street crime investigator Graham Barrow, of the Dark Money Files blog, told the BBC "these shops often start off and close down quite rapidly".

He added: "They tend to be connected in some ways with common directors, common owners, and common addresses.

"It's not unusual to see three, four, or five companies being registered to the same shop address over several years, often with very similar names, none of which ever survive to actually file the accounts with HMRC.

"So we recognise those as red flags of potentially suspicious behaviour.

"That makes it incredibly difficult for local authorities to go to magistrates and try and paint that picture of concern about a particular premises.

"You can go on the Companies House website, pay £100 and, if you know the system you can register a company in half an hour."

One of the two stores that have been closed is next door to the constituency office of Conservative South Leicestershire MP Alberto Costa.

Costa told the BBC it was "distasteful" that Jamal had been working illegally in the village.

He said: "The state has failed here. He [Jamal] should not be able to apply for asylum here.

"He has taken advantage of the freedom of our society."

Costa said he was pressing the Home Secretary for information about Jamal's status.

Police and crime commissioner Rupert Matthews told the BBC that Leicestershire Police was awaiting information from the immigration service about Jamal.

He said: "We need to find out if he has committed a crime in Leicestershire and, if he has, we will take the action we need to."

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Officers continue to work round the clock and with other law enforcement partners to track down Twana Jamal.

"Anyone with information about his whereabouts should report this to the police."

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