Untitled Document

London, May 28, 2004
Nabanita Sircar
Hindustantimes

A gang based in the Midlands, who brought illegal immigrants from India into the UK and made thousands of pounds by offering a "Club Class" service, are to be sentenced today at Canterbury Crown Court.

The gang was busted following a joint British and French surveillance operation codenamed Gular. The immigrants, believed to be from Punjab, paid £8,000 each to be smuggled in through ferry ports before being dropped off at their chosen destination as part of a "door-to-door" service. They were "fed and watered" and transported in people carriers by the gang members. The immigrants reportedly sold land and businesses in their home country to reach the UK via safe houses in Paris.

The gang leader, Shakean Chahal, 29, of Meeting Street, Wednesbury, and Talbinder Gill, 29, of Raven Road, Walsall, allegedly brought in around 400 illegal immigrants over two years.

Chahal lived a life of luxury, driving a Ferrari and a Range Rover. Authorities are now trying to seize assets worth more than £200,000 which he accumilated through the scam.

Chahal, Talbinder Gill, his brother Kalbinder Gill, 30, of Lower Forster Street, Walsall, Paul Slater-Mason, 38, of no fixed address, Lee Ludbrook, 43, of Belmont Gardens, Moxley, have all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to facilitate illegal immigration at an earlier court hearing.

Detectives of the National Crime Squad and Kent police were first alerted about the gang when its members were stopped at ports in 2001. In June 2002, Kent police had chraged some of the smugglers including Chahal, but were released on bail. They continued their activities. Finally arrests were made in June 2003 after police in Kent found people carriers containing 14 illegal immigrants near Canterbury.

Detectives found that the gang were just one group operating out of a massive smuggling network based in Paris following a run made through Calais and Dover.

Detective Inspector Alan Edwards, of the NCS, said the gang had run a "slick operation" which involved counter-surveillance and a pretence to customs officers that their interest was in cheap alcohol.

He said: "A lot of the time that we would be watching them it would just be a booze run but they would do this to make themselves 'known' to customs officers." The gang used white vans to transport people and would use "look-outs" perched on the cliffs at Dover to keep an eye on policing at the port, he said. "It was a very slick operation and it worked a number of times."

Detectives said that the operation of this particular gang was one of many operations being run from Paris by a "major player" who is facing trial in France.

Detective Sergeant David Mellin said immigrants who could not afford the Club Class service offered by the gang would use cheaper alternatives offered by other criminals.


	Illegal immigrants gang busted, faces sentence London, May 28, 2004 Nabanita Sircar Hindustantimes A gang based in the Midlands, who brought illegal immigrants from India into the UK and made thousands of pounds by offering a "Club Class" service, are to be sentenced today at Canterbury Crown Court. The gang was busted following a joint British and French surveillance operation codenamed Gular. The immigrants, believed to be from Punjab, paid £8,000 each to be smuggled in through ferry ports before being dropped off at their chosen destination as part of a "door-to-door" service. They were "fed and watered" and transported in people carriers by the gang members. The immigrants reportedly sold land and businesses in their home country to reach the UK via safe houses in Paris. The gang leader, Shakean Chahal, 29, of Meeting Street, Wednesbury, and Talbinder Gill, 29, of Raven Road, Walsall, allegedly brought in around 400 illegal immigrants over two years. Chahal lived a life of luxury, driving a Ferrari and a Range Rover. Authorities are now trying to seize assets worth more than £200,000 which he accumilated through the scam. Chahal, Talbinder Gill, his brother Kalbinder Gill, 30, of Lower Forster Street, Walsall, Paul Slater-Mason, 38, of no fixed address, Lee Ludbrook, 43, of Belmont Gardens, Moxley, have all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to facilitate illegal immigration at an earlier court hearing. Detectives of the National Crime Squad and Kent police were first alerted about the gang when its members were stopped at ports in 2001. In June 2002, Kent police had chraged some of the smugglers including Chahal, but were released on bail. They continued their activities. Finally arrests were made in June 2003 after police in Kent found people carriers containing 14 illegal immigrants near Canterbury. Detectives found that the gang were just one group operating out of a massive smuggling network based in Paris following a run made through Calais and Dover. Detective Inspector Alan Edwards, of the NCS, said the gang had run a "slick operation" which involved counter-surveillance and a pretence to customs officers that their interest was in cheap alcohol. He said: "A lot of the time that we would be watching them it would just be a booze run but they would do this to make themselves 'known' to customs officers." The gang used white vans to transport people and would use "look-outs" perched on the cliffs at Dover to keep an eye on policing at the port, he said. "It was a very slick operation and it worked a number of times." Detectives said that the operation of this particular gang was one of many operations being run from Paris by a "major player" who is facing trial in France. Detective Sergeant David Mellin said immigrants who could not afford the Club Class service offered by the gang would use cheaper alternatives offered by other criminals.