Three alleged members of an international people trafficking ring appeared in a Belfast court on Saturday.
Appearing at the city's Magistrates Court by videolink from police custody jointly charged with conspiring together to facilitate a breach of immigration law on dates between November 1st and December 15th last year were three men; Mohammed Awad (24) with an address on Chaplin Road in London; Ahmed Omar (39) from Woolsley street in Belfast and Abdulla Al Younes (28) from Agincourt Avenue, also in Belfast.
Giving evidence that he believed he could connect the three men to the charges, Officer White told the court it was the prosecution case the trio "are significant members of an international organised crime gang, involved in a complex people smuggling network between Syria and the UK.
“Evidence suggests that they may have smuggled hundreds of migrants into the UK unlawfully.
“This criminal network have established infrastructure and the capabilities to smuggle people across multiple international borders undetected.
“They have access to multiple identify documents and large sums of criminal cash.
“We have been conducting a protracted investigation against this OCG for six months and we believe that the case against the defendants is strong,” claimed the officer.
Claiming that the modus operandi was allegedly trafficking Syrian nationals across Europe, into Ireland and then crossing the border into Northern Ireland before onward flights to mainland UK, he told a prosecuting lawyer the three men were arrested two days ago.
“We have been able to connect these three men in relation to booking flights, connecting them via phone numbers, email addresses and documentation found on Mr Awad’s phone officer 120 significant identify documents,” said Officer White.
‘Circumstantial evidence’
He outlined how mobile phones of the defendants were connected to each other’s and also a number allegedly connected to Omar was also connected to “individuals who have entered the UK illegally”.
The officer further claimed that a car allegedly connected to Omar had been spotted making repeat visits to Belfast International Airport and that cell site analysis of a mobile phone allegedly attributable to him placed it at the airport at various times.
Meanwhile £6,000 in euro and sterling was seized at Awad’s address despite the fact that he isn’t employed and £3,000 was seized in Omar’s property.
Defence lawyers for the three argued that as it stands, the case against the three is weak with one describing as as “layer upon layer of circumstantial evidence” and submitted that with a package of bail conditions, the defendants could be freed.
Describing the case as "very serious charges," District Judge Amanda Henderson said while she was not dealing with the legal status of the defendants, "I would have concerns that there's the potential to access further documentation and criminal funding and potential for interference in this investigation as doubtless, there are others till involved with this gang."
“I accept that because of the seriousness of the charges that there’s a risk of flight,” concluded the judge who remanded all three into custody and adjourned the case to April 6th.