By Sammy Jones-
A London people smuggler has been found responsible for masterminding complex operations that moved migrants into the United Kingdom, often using high-risk methods including HGV lorries, small boats, and even a yacht.
Nareman with machete and chain. Pic: NCA
Today, a “trial of the facts” concluded at Maidstone Crown Court, determining that Mohammed Ali Nareman, 37, from London, committed multiple people-smuggling offenses related to dangerous English Channel crossings.
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Nareman, known to the migrants he transported as ‘Hama Kalari’, did not stand a full criminal trial because medical professionals deemed him mentally unfit, citing severe depression, panic attacks, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
His criminal network relied on an accomplice, Ali Omar Karim, 47, from Portsmouth. Karim, who oversaw a syndicate of HGV smugglers, previously pleaded guilty to people-smuggling charges back in June of last year. This vast smuggling operation became public when Border Force agents quickly intercepted 14 individuals, including two children, within two hours of a specific incident. The detained migrants originated from Iran, Iraq, and Albania, illustrating the diverse clientele of the criminal enterprise.
Investigators later translated videos taken by the migrants while they were aboard the smuggling yacht. On the recordings, voices could clearly be heard declaring, “We are all Hama Kalari’s passengers, thank the great God now we are in the water.” One of these migrants had directly communicated with Nareman before the crossing event, leading National Crime Agency (NCA) officials to trace and arrest the London people smuggler in April 2023.
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Nareman’s mobile phone records showed key movements, including a journey from his home to Rye on February 12, as he prepared for a crossing. The NCA’s successful investigation dismantled a highly organized and dangerous ring.
Images found on Nareman’s device immediately exposed his operational planning, which included maps of both the French and British coastlines clearly meant for plotting a route. The phone also held photographs of several migrant passports and a striking image of Nareman himself holding a large stack of cash totaling £50,000.
Further analysis of the seized phone exposed extensive conversations concerning both HGV and small boat crossings, complete with clear pricing details. These digital messages also documented heated arguments between Nareman and rival smugglers, confirming the scale and competitiveness of the illegal trade. This evidence confirmed the London people smuggler was deeply entrenched in a major criminal industry.
The criminal activities of this London people smuggler are situated within a dynamic national debate on immigration and border security. Latest provisional data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals that long-term net migration for the year ending
December 2024 was estimated at 431,000. This figure represents the total difference between people entering and leaving the UK for a year or more, and it marks a sharp decline from the 860,000 recorded in the previous year. While overall net migration covers all legal and humanitarian routes, the specific illegal crossings facilitated by Nareman and his peers demonstrate a growing challenge in controlling maritime borders.
The sheer volume of people attempting these dangerous voyages emphasizes the market for organized crime. For example, irregular arrivals by small boats peaked in 2022, when a record 45,774 people were detected making the crossing. Although the figure decreased to 29,437 in 2023, provisional data shows that around 37,000 people arrived in 2024, indicating continued high demand for the illegal services provided by the London people smuggler network.
Rachel Bramley, an NCA official, emphasized the criminal’s impact: “Mohammed Ali Nareman was extremely prolific in the criminal world of people smuggling. His messages with Karim and others showed the group’s disdain for the people they were transporting—they were seen as nothing more than a commodity for them to make money from.” She added that their investigators successfully uncovered the group’s extensive digital footprint.
This evidence documented months of activity organizing crossings by both small boats and HGVs, sharing specific routes and current prices. The London people smuggler and his associates received praise in videos from migrants successfully completing their dangerous crossings and often boasted about the large proceeds they made.
While Nareman’s mental health status prevented a traditional guilty verdict, the finding of fact ensures accountability for the dangerous operation. Co-conspirator Karim is scheduled to receive his sentence on January 8, 2026. Nareman will remain in custody until the same date, concluding the legal process for the prolific London people smuggler and his accomplice.
For more understanding of the wider context of this issue, read more about [recent small boat crossing data] here. Authorities continue to disrupt these networks to protect the vulnerable. For more on the agency’s work, visit the National Crime Agency website.
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