Two men have each been jailed for 2 years and 6 months after a small boat people smuggling attempt was prevented by Border Force officers in Southwold
Denys Khvatkov, 19, and Bohdan Lutskyi, 39, were sentenced when they appeared at Norwich Crown Court today (5 November). The Ukrainian nationals had both pleaded guilty to charges of facilitating a breach of the UK’s immigration laws at an earlier hearing.
The men were arrested on 31 July after Border Force officers were alerted by the Dutch coastguard to a suspicious yacht en route to the UK.
A Border Force cutter was deployed and monitored the vessel as it made its way towards the Suffolk coast from the Netherlands.
When the yacht moored at Southwold Harbour shortly after 9pm, Border Force officers were waiting for the men and searched the vessel. On board they found Khvatkov, Lutskyi and 2 Albanian men who had no leave to enter the UK.
Khvatkov, who had been observed steering the yacht, and Lutskyi, who was seen trying the vessel up on the harbourside, were both arrested on suspicion of facilitation and enquiries were passed to Immigration Enforcement’s Criminal and Financial Investigation (CFI) team.
During interview, one of the Albanian men confirmed that they had agreed to pay Khvatkov and Lutskyi £5,000 to be smuggled into the UK.
When Khvatkov and Lutskyi were searched, officers also found they were in possession of counterfeit International Yacht Training cards, which falsely indicated that they had significant maritime experience.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said:
Clandestine Channel Threat Commander Dan O’Mahoney said:
In addition to the sentence, the Judge also ordered the forfeiture of the yacht and its contents, which will now be sold and the proceeds returned to the public purse.
The Albanian nationals made immigration applications, which are being dealt with.