Three convicted people smugglers, including a failed asylum seeker from Wolverhampton, have been warned they will remain on a watchlist even after serving their prison sentences. The National Crime Agency (NCA) stated that the ancillary orders are designed to prevent further offending, limiting opportunities for those subject to them to take part in illegal activity and making them less attractive to organised crime gangs.
Ramal Briem's role in the smuggling network
Ramal Briem, 33, from Wolverhampton, was arrested by the NCA at his home in July 2024. He was at the 'very centre' of a 'dangerous' network that moved Vietnamese migrants across Europe and into Britain for £1,500 per person. He employed people across the globe to facilitate the smuggling. After bringing illegal immigrants into the UK, he ordered them to be 'collected' from Home Office-arranged hotels before they disappeared into the community. He even offered them access to solicitors, accommodation, and work, telling them they could transfer money in exchange for his help from within Birmingham's Chinatown.
Sentencing and restrictions
Briem was jailed for more than 10 years in March. Under the terms of his Serious Crime Prevention Order (SCPO), he will face restrictions on communications devices and be subject to strict financial reporting rules after his release. Breaching the order will lead to further action by the NCA.
Other smugglers added to the list
Among the 30 people added to the NCA's list are Dilshad Shamo and Ali Khdir from South Wales, who were jailed for 19 years each in April for their roles in a multi-national people smuggling ring moving migrants from Iraq, Iran, and Syria into Europe and onwards to the UK. They used WhatsApp to communicate with smugglers across Europe and advertised their routes and services on messaging and social media apps. Both will also be subject to SCPOs, placing significant limitations on their travel, communications, and finances once they have served their sentences.
NCA's commitment to tackling organised immigration crime
Alison Abbott, Head of the NCA’s Prison and Lifetime Management Unit, said: 'These orders are a powerful tool which help us deal with the most serious and harmful criminals, hindering their return to offending once they have served their sentence. As well as imposing restrictions on things like travel, communications or finances, being subject to one of these orders means you remain on our radar and makes you toxic to other criminals. The NCA will continue to pursue criminals with all tools available to us as part of our mission to protect the public from serious and organised crime.'
The next Ancillary Orders list will be published in late 2026. Publication of orders is considered carefully on a case-by-case basis. Tackling organised immigration crime remains a priority for the NCA, with over 100 investigations ongoing and more resource than ever being devoted to it. Last week, the Agency announced a significant increase in arrests for people smuggling offences, up 55% to 300 in the year to April 2026.
