A BBC investigation has revealed that a convicted people smuggler, described by French prosecutors as one of the most significant figures in cross-Channel trafficking networks, is currently living in the United Kingdom and is believed to be seeking asylum while also working illegally.

The man, Twana Jamal, was sentenced in France in 2016 to five years in prison for his role in organising the movement of migrants from camps near Dunkirk to the UK, reportedly earning substantial profits from the trade.French authorities had linked him to a Kurdish smuggling network and accused him of operating under multiple aliases, including the nickname “Pasha”.

According to the investigation, Jamal was traced to Blaby in Leicestershire following a tip-off and was observed working in local retail premises, allegedly under a different name.Journalists also reported seeing him driving without a valid licence and engaging in employment despite claiming to be an asylum seeker.

When confronted, he initially denied involvement in people smuggling and rejected claims about his criminal conviction, although he did not deny his identity when shown court images.The BBC reports that Jamal admitted to applying for asylum in the UK and said he was awaiting a decision.

His case raises concerns about the effectiveness of immigration and security checks, particularly following the UK’s departure from the European Union, which has reportedly reduced access to shared criminal records across European countries.Immigration officials have acknowledged that this may complicate background verification for asylum applicants.

Law enforcement sources in Europe told the BBC that Jamal is not an isolated case, alleging that other individuals with serious criminal convictions abroad may also be living in the UK under false identities.

The Home Office maintains that asylum seekers are subject to mandatory identity and security checks, though it also states that some international data-sharing agreements remain in place.The case has reignited debate over border security, illegal working, and the integrity of asylum processes in the UK.