An asylum seeker allowed to stay in the UK has been jailed for trafficking migrants in a gang led by his “brother” who had previously been labelled the “best people smuggler”.

Anjan Ahmadi, 26, was jailed at Preston Crown Court for five years and seven months for his role in helping two migrants illegally enter the UK with border-crossing boss Amanj Hasan Zada, 35.

Ahmadi illegally entered the UK before claiming asylum and later granted indefinite leave to remain by the Home Office which allowed him to work and claim benefits in Britain, the court heard.

The man required a Kurdish interpreter in court.

He is among a number of refugees who had been granted indefinite leave to remain and had later allegedly been involved in people smuggling.

His defence lawyer, Zarif Khan, said his client was granted asylum not long before his arrest by the National Crime Agency after being accused of people smuggling in July 2024.

Zada was jailed for 17 years in the same court last November.

An NCA investigation linked him to three separate Channel crossings from France two years ago – it involved Kurdish migrants.

He was convicted of three counts of facilitating illegal immigration.

NCA Branch Commander Martin Clarke said, following the trial, that there was “no doubt” Zada’s gang was likely involved in many more illegal crossings.

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He said he was running a “sophisticated enterprise” which was “all about profit”.

During the NCA investigation, the agency found videos of Zada – one being of him firing a gun in celebration.

The NCA said he was known as Amanj Zaman by those he tried to smuggle.

It also added that there were videos of him being thanked by those who he had helped in a bid to get more customers.

One video showed a group of men on a boat to Italy thanking him.

Another pictured Zada at a party, thought to be in Iraq, where he was singing a Kurdish song where he was praised as “the best smuggler”.

The court heard that Zada had health problems and was unable to drive and that was why Ahamdi acted as his driver.

Ahmadi and Zada lived together on Stefano Road in Preston and are believed to be brothers, the court heard.

NCA officers covertly recorded conversations Zada had with other smugglers in Europe and in the Kurdistan area of Iraq.

He was arrested in May 2024 where his phone was seized.

It also showed that he had direct contact with some migrants who had come to the UK in 2023.

Evidence found by the investigators showed Ahamdi played a critical role in Zada’s crime group.

He eventually pleaded guilty to two counts of facilitating illegal immigration to both the UK and EU.