BBC Traces Convicted People Smuggler Twana Jamal Living in Leicestershire, Claiming Asylum

A BBC investigation has revealed that Twana Jamal, a convicted people smuggler once dubbed the "godfather" of French migrant camps, is now residing in Leicestershire and reportedly applying for asylum.

The former smuggler earned up to £100,000 a week moving illegal immigrants across the Channel and was sentenced to five years in France in 2016. Despite his criminal history, Jamal was seen driving a car without a licence and working at two local mini‑marts, prompting questions over the effectiveness of UK border and asylum checks since Brexit.

Jamals alleged asylum status means he should not be working or driving, yet videos and undercover observations show him behind a till and moving stock in the Candy Corner stores on Blaby High Street. When confronted, he denied any smuggling involvement and claimed he had been in the UK since 2009, refusing to name himself.

The BBC’s investigation has uncovered more than 20 smugglers living in the UK, many with overseas convictions. Asylum seekers are fingerprinted on arrival, but databases are not always shared between countries post‑Brexit, creating gaps that allow individuals with serious criminal records to reside in the country undetected. The Home Office confirms all claimants undergo security checks, yet detailed information about these checks is not publicly disclosed.

For further details, listen to the BBC Radio 4 podcast episode “To Catch A King,” where Sue Mitchell and Rob Lawrie investigate Jamal and other smugglers.