An international criminal mastermind involved in human trafficking has been sentenced to 11 years in prison in Belgium for his role in supplying rubber dinghies to migrant gangs. Adem Savas, aged 45, was found guilty of people smuggling and participating in an organized crime group. His arrest occurred in Amsterdam as he was en route to a marine equipment exhibition, following a thorough investigation by law enforcement agencies from Belgium, the UK, and the Netherlands.
Savas is thought to have amassed significant profits by providing equipment utilized in approximately half of the Channel crossings in 2023, some of which resulted in tragic fatalities. He held a prominent position in the European people smuggling network and was at the top of the National Crime Agency’s list of wanted criminals due to his involvement in thousands of migrant crossings.
According to NCA Director General of Operations, Rob Jones, Savas was a key supplier of boats and engines to criminal groups orchestrating dangerous Channel crossings, knowing full well the lethal consequences of the equipment he supplied. His actions led to numerous fatal incidents in the Channel, all while profiting from each tragic event.
Authorities praised the collaboration between international law enforcement agencies in dismantling this criminal operation. Minister for Border Security and Asylum Alex Norris commended the efforts of the National Crime Agency and its global partners in apprehending Savas and bringing him to justice.
Savas pleaded guilty to people smuggling and organized crime charges in a court in Bruges, resulting in an 11-year prison sentence and a 400,000 euro fine. His arrest stemmed from an investigation into Kurdish crime boss Hewa Rahimpur, who was responsible for a large-scale smuggling operation moving thousands of migrants through small boat crossings to the UK.
Investigators discovered that Savas was the main supplier of boats and engines to Rahimpur’s criminal network, with the equipment being predominantly “Parsun” outboard engines from China. Savas transported the gear through various countries before it was utilized in Channel crossings, where he charged around £4,000 per package, potentially earning millions during his illicit enterprise.
The joint efforts of law enforcement agencies led to the identification and arrest of multiple members of the smuggling network, including Rahimpur and Savas. Messages exchanged between the two criminals revealed their involvement in fatal incidents, further solidifying the evidence against them.
Savas’ arrest at Schipol Airport in Amsterdam was the result of a meticulously planned operation involving Europol and Eurojust, underscoring the successful collaboration between international agencies in combating transnational crime.