France jails two Iraqi Kurdish migrant smugglers over boat tragedy

France jails two Iraqi Kurdish smugglers over 2022 migrant boat tragedy — A group of migrants in a dinghy approach southern England after crossing the Channel from France on September 1, 2021. Photo: AFP

LILLE, France,— A court in northern France sentenced seven Afghan nationals and two Iraqi Kurds to prison terms ranging from seven to eight years for their roles in a failed migrant crossing in 2022 that ended in multiple deaths near the UK coastline.

The group was convicted in connection with a smuggling operation that launched a dinghy from France toward England in the early hours of December 14, 2022. The vessel, which carried migrants from Afghanistan, Senegal, Albania, and India, sank in cold waters just short of its destination.

French authorities reported that four people died and four remain missing. Only one body—a man from Afghanistan—was formally identified. Rescuers pulled 39 survivors from the water.

Three of the convicted individuals received the maximum eight-year sentence, including one Afghan who was tried in absentia and is considered the architect of the operation. Others received seven-year terms. The court also imposed fines between €50,000 and €100,000 per person and ordered their deportation upon completing their prison terms.

Among those convicted were two Afghan siblings said to have financed the journey, and another Afghan who arranged for passengers to join the crossing. He claimed he was coerced into helping due to threats.

The verdicts follow a broader effort by France and the UK to target human trafficking rings facilitating illegal crossings of the English Channel. Smugglers typically use overloaded rubber boats, often charging thousands of euros per person.

According to French prosecutors, passengers aboard the ill-fated vessel had each paid approximately €3,500 ($4,000). Witnesses in the investigation described hearing a loud pop—likely the boat rupturing—before departure, but smugglers dismissed the issue.

Conditions at sea were rough, and life jackets were in short supply. Survivors testified that the individuals who died were not wearing flotation devices. The boat began to take on water within two hours of launch. In a panic, passengers stood up to signal for help, which caused the boat to split and capsize.

French authorities said the incident was one of the most lethal in recent years. A similar event in November 2021 left 27 migrants dead off the coast near Calais.

Efforts to prevent such crossings continue. While France currently allows rescue operations at sea, authorities are considering measures to block vessels before they enter open waters. Legal and safety concerns have delayed implementation.

A tenth suspect in the 2022 case is being held in Belgium and is expected to face trial separately.

In the UK, a Senegalese minor identified as the pilot of the boat was previously sentenced to nine years in a separate trial.

At least 17 migrants have died attempting the Channel route so far in 2025, following a record 78 deaths in 2024, according to official figures.

In a related development, two Kurdish men from Caerphilly, Wales, pleaded guilty in the United Kingdom in November 2024.

The pair admitted to operating a large-scale human trafficking network responsible for moving thousands of migrants across Europe. Their case highlights the ongoing challenge authorities face in dismantling organized smuggling rings linked to dangerous Channel crossings.

(Credit: AFP | Agencies)